MINORITIES RAISING FUNDS FOR BATTLE, FLOOD OF SMUGGLED DRUGS PICKED
CHIANG MAI : Drug authorities have been alerted to a mass influx of methamphetamine pills across the border from Burma next month as ethnic groups aim to raise cash for weapons.
It is thought that elements among the Kokang and Wa people will step up drug production as a way to earn money and fight off pressure form Burma's junta as it tries to create an "electorate" for next year's much-maligned elections.
Thailand's concern was underlined after drugs police seized about 500,000 pills from United Wa State Army soldiers last month in two separate raids.
Militia soldiers were taken for questioning and admitted the money obtained from the drug trade would be spent in a war between them and Burmese forces.
"The Burmese government continues fighting drug trafficking. We believe they will carry out heavy suppression against these ethnic minority groups next year," said Adithep Panjamanont, commissioner of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau.
Some minority groups living along the Thai-Burma border adjacent to Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son provinces have set up about 50 drug refineries, according to sources.
Thai officials have worked with their Burma counterparts to destroy the factories and combat cross-border drug trafficking.
Pol Lt Gen Adithep said the situation of methamphetamine pill manufacturing and trafficking in the border region remained a worry despite heavy suppression by authorities of the two countries. Children aged 13 were found to have been addicted to the pills, he added.
Pol Lt Gen Adithep's comments came as Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban launched an expanded, royally-initiated project to eradicate opium plantations in Ban Khun Tuen Noi in Omkoi district, Chiang Mai.
The project is one of 10 in Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son provinces which has been recently approved.
In the past 40 years, Thailand has reduced opium plantations from 112,000 rai to 1,319 rai, and an area about 700 rai has just been found in Omkoi district.
The cabinet recently approved a budget of 1.9 billion baht under the Thailand: Investing From Strength To Strength project to eradicate opium plantations.
The four-year campaign, starting next month, is aimed at encouraging Karen people to grow crops such as coffee, bean and rice.
At Ban Khun Tuen Noi, Mr Suthep called on officials to respect the rule of law and integrate their work to cope with the possible increase in drug trafficking next year.
"We expect to reduce drug trafficking and illegal drug use by 50% next year," said Mr Suthep.
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