Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) hosted the 9th Bilateral on Drug Law Enforcement Cooperation Meeting between Thailand and Myanmar during 5-8 September 2004 in Phuket Province, Thailand.

The meeting co-chaired by Pol. Gen Chidchai Vanasatidya, Secretary-General of NCB and Pol. Maj. Gen Khin Yi, Chief of Police Force of Union of Myanmar. Various Thai agencies concerned eg. Police Narcotics Suppression Bureau of Royal Thai Police, Royal Custom Department, Representative of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and M.R. Disnadda Diskul Secretary-General of Mae Fah Laung Foundation / Project Director of Doi Tung Development Project participated in the meeting.

The Bilateral Meeting on Drug Law Enforcement Meeting was initiated in 1997 in the form of Seminar workshop in order to find ways and means to solve drug trafficking along the border of two countries. Thailand and Myanmar take turn hosting with the objectives in exchanging of drug information and identify drug problems as well as draw up operational plan among operational level between two countries.

The meeting results has been summarized as follows.
1. Drug situation along border areas of two countries has been reported in various issues :-
         1.1 In Myanmar, the illicit opium cultivation significantly declined from 108,700 hectares in 2000 to 44,200 hectares in 2004. Its production also dropped from 810 metric tons to 370 metric tons, while the production in Thailand also significantly droped to 2 metric tons in 2003.
          1.2 Currently, drug trafficking routes to international market has been changed by using China and Thailand as transit countries. It is also found that methamphetamine, ecstasy, ketamine and heroin are smuggled from neighboring countries through Mae Khong river and Andaman Sea into Thai territory. It is remarkable that the seizure of heroin was increased.
          1.3 Both parties have paid more attention on the vigilance of other synthetic drugs which are used to substitute ATS and opiate etc. The epidemic of cough syrup mixed with codeine is widely spreading in the south of Thailand. It is also reported that cough syrup mixed with codein is also smuggled from Myanmar – India border. In this case, Myanmar authority has discussed with the Indian authority to solve the problem. It is, therefore necessary that Myanmar and India enhance more close cooperation.
          1.4 The two parties reported the achievement resulted from coordination and joint operation at all levels, consequently quite a few drug traffickers were arrested. In addition, drug networks and expansion of arresting had been exchanged for further operation.

2. Thailand presented the implementation on drug law enforcement cooperation of United Nations Office on Drug and Crime’s framework. Previously, two Border Liaison Office between Thailand and Myanmar had been established in Mae Sai-Tachilek and Mae Sod-Maewwaddy. The 3rd BLO in Ranong-Tong island was established on 20 August 2004. Another 10 Border Liaison Offices along Mae Khong River among China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand are also established for more close cooperation and crack down illicit drug trafficking in South-east Asia.

3. Thailand reported the progress of Drug Analysis and Identification and Drug Profiling/ Signature Analysis Program which has been supported by Japanese Government since 2002. The project aims to develop and enhance the capacity of Thailand’s forensic scientific laboratory analysis in order to support drug law enforcement and intelligent work in identifying sources of illicit production. The project has been expanded to cover neighboring countries namely Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam.

4. Thailand also informed Myanmar authority that in the near future, one Drug Liaison Officer will be appointed to Royal Thai Embassy in Yangon to liaise with agencies concerned in Myanmar. His jurisdiction will be covered and coordinated with Indian territory.

5. On this occasion, M.R.. Disnadda Diskul, Secretary General of Mae Fah Luang Foundation / Director of Doi Tung Development Project presented the progress of the implementation of Yawn Kha Development Project which the Royal Thai Government has contributed to help develop this area for ethnic minorities who settle and live along Thai-Myanmar border. The problems and obstacles as well as problem solving guidelines were also presented to the meeting. Head delegation of Myanmar expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to the Royal Thai Government in initiating this project. This project has enhanced the cooperation between two countries. Consequently, cooperation on drug law enforcement between Thailand and Myanmar has also been improved significantly.

6. The meeting concluded with excellent atmosphere and achieved all objectives. The next meeting will be hosted by CCDAC of Myanmar in 2005. The actual meeting and venue will be announced accordingly.