Centre set up in Bangkok to help stamp out drugs in Asean region

This is part of the regional grouping’s goal to rid Asean countries of illegal narcotics within the next year. 

The Asean Narcotic Cooperation Centre (Asean-Narco) is located at Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) headquarters.

Senior officials from the 10 Asean members along with dialogue partners China, Japan and South Korea, attended a meeting with Asean Senior Officials on Drug Matters (ASOD) at the ONCB headquarters yesterday. 

The meeting was presided over by Justice Minister General Paiboon Koomchaya, who is also chief of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)’s legal affairs. 

Paiboon said yesterday that Asean-Narco was meant to make the exchange of information between Asean’s anti-narcotics authorities faster and better. 

“The Asean Economic Community will start in 2015, so all member countries need to work together to fight the trafficking of drugs. Thailand faces the worst drug problem in the region because it is used as a transit point by smugglers,” he said. 

With AEC, it will be easier for Asean nationals to cross borders. 

Paiboon said minorities in Myanmar produce most of the narcotics that flood into Thailand, adding that he would encourage Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha to raise this matter with Myanmar leaders during his upcoming trip. 

Permpong Chaovalit, ONCB secretary-general, said a joint strategy to fight drug-trafficking among Asean countries was needed to deal with the problem, which is expected to worsen with the advent of AEC. 

He said Asean countries had to work closely together in order to achieve the common goal of making the region drugs free. 

Most of the drugs, especially methamphetamine, are produced in Golden Triangle, which borders Myanmar, Thailand and Laos. Thailand is used as transit point for the smuggling of crystallised methamphetamine, also known as “ice”, from Africa, and cocaine from Latin America. 

Smugglers often use provincial airports, such as Samui and Phuket. Asean countries are part of the route used to smuggle drugs into China, Japan, South Korea and Australia.