Pubdate: Wed, 08 Sep 2004 Source: Bangkok Post (Thailand) Copyright: The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. 2004 Contact: http://www.bangkokpost.co.th/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/39 Author: Achatthaya Chuenniran NCB: BORDER LIAISON KEY TO HALTING DRUGS Phuket, Thailand has proposed the setting up of 10 more border liaison offices in the four Mekong countries and an increase in the frequency of patrols along the Mekong river in a bid to stem the flow of illicit drugs. The proposal was tabled during a four-day meeting of representatives of drug suppression agencies from Thailand and Burma. The meeting, which began Sept 5 and ended yesterday, was co-chaired by Narcotics Control Board (NCB) secretary-general Pol Gen Chidchai Wannasathit and Burma's police chief Pol Maj-Gen Khin Yin. Pol Gen Chidchai said more border liaison offices should be set up in China, Laos, Burma and Thailand for better drug suppression coordination. To prevent gangs from smuggling drugs into the four countries, he proposed that patrols along the river be increased. Earlier, three Thai-Burmese border liaison offices were set up in Mae Sai-Tachilek, Mae Sot-Mywaddy and Kawthaung-Ranong. Thailand's fierce drug suppression drive in the North has forced drug gangs to switch their smuggling routes. A special envoy will soon be posted at the Thai embassy in Rangoon to coordinate work with anti-drug agencies. Maj-Gen Khin Yin said Burma had cooperated well with Thailand in the drug crackdown. In the past months, Rangoon had arrested many traffickers, handing them over to Thai authorities, he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D