Pha Muang Task Force seized 151 million narcotics pills in 8 months, worth over 20 billion baht, higher than last year due to fighting in Myanmar and crackdown on Chinese gray capital.
Colonel Meechai Nilsat, deputy commander of the Pha Muang Task Force, said about the drug situation in the Pha Muang Task Force area, Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai provinces, that in the past 8 months, 151 million methamphetamine pills were seized, worth over 20 billion baht, a statistic higher than last year. Factors include the fighting in neighboring countries that have not been able to control ethnic minorities, so they are able to move and produce drugs independently. In addition, ethnic minorities want to create a power base, using income to support their own group’s purchase of weapons. Production comes from Shan State, which borders China. Methamphetamine pills can be produced by a punching machine at a rate of 100,000 pills per hour.
In addition, the suppression of the Chinese gray capital group is another factor that has c
aused the group to return to producing drugs as usual. As for the illegal arms trade, which was an observation of Mr. Rangsiman Rome, Chairman of the National Security Committee, he did not know where it came from, but he has ordered strictness according to the assigned policy on interception and confirmed that weapons within Thailand do not leak to neighboring countries.
However, it is admitted that the Pha Muang Task Force needs to receive equipment support from the Army to use as a tool to intercept illegal activities, such as sensor systems and inspection systems. For the policy of Mr. Suthin Khlangsaeng, Minister of Defense, the Army will intercept drugs on the border, down to small-scale villages. There are 11 target districts: Chiang Mai 5 districts, Chiang Rai 6 districts, and Nan Province will be the pilot province to be drug-free. It is confirmed that the Pha Muang Task Force is already strict in intercepting drugs.
Source: Thai News Agency