Record methamphetamine arrests in East Asia, UN says
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A record number of methamphetamine-related arrests took place in East and South-East Asia last year, as seizures of the drug surged by nearly two thirds, the United Nations reported Friday.
"Some 387,396 methamphetamine-related arrests were recorded in the region in 2012, the highest total ever reported," the annual report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said.
Thailand topped the list with 195,741, China came second with 75,549 and Malaysia third with 74,460.
Myanmar, a major supplier of methamphetamines to the region, reported 1,825 arrests, up from 1,269 from 2011 figures.
Methamphetamines have been the most popular illicit drug in East and South-East Asia for decades.
Last year, some 226,713,942 methamphetamine pills were seized in the region, up 59 per cent from 2011, with almost half accounted for by China, where 102,242,000 pills were seized.
Thailand reported seizures of 95,268,000 pills, almost double the 2011 figure of 95,258,000.
Seizures of ecstasy more than tripled, to 5,435,626 pills confiscated, the report said.
