In Mekong region, drug trade thrives
14
Johanna Son Founder/editor of the Reporting ASEAN series
published : 15 Jul 2021 at 04:00
14 Confiscated synthetic drugs, including 167 kilogrammes of ketamine as well as other popular recreational drugs, in this file photo from April 7. (Photo: Nutthawat Wicheanbut)
An example of a resilient business model in hard times? Indeed, except that this describes how the synthetic drug industry has been expanding in East and Southeast Asia, home to the Mekong region which is the manufacturing and trafficking hub that supplies illicit drugs that reach not just the wider Asia but the globe.
Referring to a report on the synthetic drug situation, Inshik Sim, drug programme analyst for Southeast Asia and the Pacific for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), said: Covid-19 has had very, very limited impact and especially in the Mekong region, we don t see much impact of Covid-19,
Commission on Narcotic Drugs witness varied opinions on Drug Policy - New Delhi Times - India s Only International Newspaper newdelhitimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from newdelhitimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Huge heroin haul seized in Chon Buri
published : 7 Jul 2021 at 04:00
Customs authorities have seized 314 kilogrammes of heroin worth 943 million baht, hidden in 135 paint buckets which were waiting to be delivered to Australia through Laem Chabang port in Chon Buri, Deputy Finance Minister Santi Promphat said yesterday.
Mr Santi, who oversees the Customs Department, said at a press conference yesterday that the haul was found on Monday, after authorities decided to X-ray a shipping container they deemed suspicious. Thai authorities are ready to take legal action against those who are involved with this drug shipment, and any other trafficking networks, he said.
The Office of the Narcotics Control Board has seized over one billion baht worth of assets belonging to members of a major drug smuggling network in the North, ONCB secretary-general Wichai Chaimongkol said yesterday.
According to Mr Wichai, the network routinely trafficked heroin produced in Myanmar s Golden Triangle to Malaysia via Thailand.
The asset seizures followed three different operations which took place earlier this year.
On Feb 3, Narcotics Suppression Bureau officers arrested two suspects with 100 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine, or ice , and 381 meth pills in their possession in Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai.
Then on Feb 18, ONCB officials along with Region 5 police officers arrested three suspects and seized 100 slabs of heroin in Nan. From them, Mr Wichai said, authorities seized 34.9 million baht worth of drug-related assets.
B1bn worth of drug assets seized bangkokpost.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bangkokpost.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.