A Call for Serious Action against Narcotic Drugs

(20/09/2011)

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has called for serious action against narcotic drugs, saying that the Government would join forces with all sectors of Thai society and foreign countries to win the war on drugs. The call was made when the Prime Minister presided over a drug bonfire at the Bang Pa-in Industrial Estate in Ayutthaya province on September 17. A total of 821 kilograms of illicit drugs were burned at the drug bonfire, the 40th of its kind, held by the Ministry of Public Health. It consisted of almost 634 kilograms of methamphetamines, 124.54 kilograms of heroin, 41.2 kilograms of opium, 5.13 kilograms of cocaine, and 4.64 kilograms of marijuana, as well as other kinds of narcotics. These substances, valued at 2.45 billion baht, were being kept at the Food and Drug Administration. The Narcotic Suppression Bureau also brought another 941 kilograms of marijuana, worth 4.7 million baht, to be burned in this drug bonfire. All the seized drugs were destroyed by pyrolytic incineration at the very high temperature of 850 degrees Celsius. Also witnessing the ceremonial drug destruction were representatives from various foreign embassies in Bangkok, government officials, and members of the media. Prime Minister Yingluck stated that the drug bonfire was held for the second time this year and that the narcotics were seized from more than 130,000 cases. She urged the public to protect young people from the drug menace, saying that anti-drug operations had been included in the national agenda. The Prime Minister said that the Government aimed to bring the drug problem under control in the first year of her administration. The Government’s policy on drug suppression and control seeks to crack down on drugs and penalize producers, dealers, influential persons, and wrongdoers. Drug addicts will be regarded as patients who should receive treatment, so that they will return to be productive members of society. At the same time, the Government will seriously step up anti-drug campaigns and cooperate with other countries in drug control. It will also prevent vulnerable groups, especially young people, from getting involved with narcotics by harnessing members of society to join hands in fighting the drug menace. Meanwhile, Government Spokesperson, Thitima Chaisaeng, called on Thai people to show their intent in the fight against drugs by joining the campaign the “Force of the Land to Defeat the Drug Problem.” Anyone wishing to inform authorities about the drug problem may call 1386. All state hospitals offer counseling services for drug treatment and rehabilitation, as well. For more information, please call 1165.