Vietnam-Thai Authorities Stage Anti-Narcotics Meeting

Published : September 09, 2010 :: 15:09:01 [ 1,905 views ]

Vietnam-Thai Authorities Stage Anti-Narcotics Meeting

Officials of Vietnam and Thailand met in Ho Chi Minh City earlier this week seeking to step up measures in the respective nations fight against drug-related crimes.

Thailand, the 9^th of September 2010: Representatives from Vietnam’s General Criminal Prevention Police Department of the Ministry of Public Security and Thailand’s Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) met to discuss cooperation in combating drug related crimes and trafficking between the two nations.

Sharing information pertaining to narcotics-related crimes, Major General Cao Minh Nhan (Deputy General Director of the General Criminal Prevention Police) reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment in cooperating with Thailand over drug suppression operations, applauding the current success of ongoing measures between the two neighbours.

General Krisna Polananta (Secretary General of Thailand ONCB) concurred with his Vietnamese counterpart, stating that the continued close monitoring of drug related operations between the two nations was proving effective, while maintaining that further measures could still be implemented.

Gen. Polananta revealed the smuggling of ‘cold & flu’ medicines into Thailand was still a major issue, with Thai intelligence reports suggesting that the pharmaceuticals are being shipped into Vietnam before being trafficked into the Kingdom. He requested that Vietnamese agencies closely monitor suspect shipments and inform Thai authorities in an effort to jointly stamp out the trade.

The ‘cold & flu’ medicines being trafficked contain a key component, pseudoephedrine, in the making of the class-1 restricted drug crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as Ya-Ice or meth.

In conclusion, Gen. Polananta proposed that Vietnamese agencies update their records on African suspects, believed to be responsible for a large amount of cross border trade pertaining to illegal narcotics.

Vietnam and Thailand first signed a cooperation agreement on drug control in 2001 and since then the two nations have organised numerous activities aimed at sharing drug suppression related information including management of offenders, addicts and relevant prevention programs.