Thai Deputy PM: Drug cases will reduce in 2011

BANGKOK, Dec 20 (TNA)-Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Monday he was confident that the public would witness a better change from the government's attempts against drugs next year, as Thai authorities would also seek cooperation from neighbouring countries for joint actions against narcotics.

Mr Suthep, who oversees national secutiy, said he would call a meeting with senior police officers from across the country in Bangkok on Tuesday (Dec 21), including National Police Chief Police General Wichien Potposri and provincial police chiefs, to discuss measures against drugs based on Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's policy on narcotics prevention and suppression.

"To accelerate Thailand's actions against narcotics, commanders of all police station throughout the country will be instructed to intensify on intelligence, investigative efforts, crackdowns and arrests of drug suspects; while cooperation with the Interior Ministry, through provincial governors and district chief, will also be stepped up to see progress on national actions against drugs on a monthly basis," Mr Suthep said.

The Deputy Premier insisted that Thailand would jointly work with neighbouring countries, namely Myanmar and Laos, against drug trafficking, particularly in the country's northern border areas.(TNA)