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191251
Mon, 06/27/2011 - 07:40
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http://m.oananews.org//node/191251
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Seized narcotic drugs put on fire
VIENTIANE,JUN. (KPL)- Large numbers of seized narcotic drugs from drug traffickers were put on fire at That Luang square in Vientiane Capital last Friday to commemorate the 24th Anniversary of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
The narcotic drugs that have been seized from drug traffickers over the past one year including heroin 77 blocs weighing 859.5 Kg, methamphetamine locally known as Yabaa weighing 186 Kg and 348g, cocaine weighing 250.3 grams, dried cannabis weighing 2,244 kg, 16 pieces of opium mixed up with cloth weighing 7.7 kg, 1,400,000 tablets of cold medicine containing chemical precursor (Pseudo-ephedrine) that can be used to produce ATS, according to an annual report of Mr. Soubanh Srithirath, Chairperson of the Lao National Commission for Drug Control and Supervision (LCDC).
High-ranking government official joining the Drug Burning Ceremony of the Seized Drugs were Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, Minister of Public Security, Mr Thongbanh Seng-aphone and diplomatic corps.
The drugs displayed for the burning at this ceremony are from 47 cases judged by the Court of Vientiane Capital and nearby provinces, with 93 offenders. As for the drug seized in other provinces of the country, after judged by Courts, LCDC has also instructed provincial Committee for Drug Control and Supervision (PCDC) to burn and destroy them in place, Mr. Soubanh said.
One of the challenges for international community at the present time is the scourge of drugs. The danger of drug abuse and drug related crime is the source of various social evils. Drugs destroy peaceful life, property and security of the people. The scourge of drugs poses also negative impact to the socio-economic development of the country. Although many countries in the world have set up internal measures or cooperate with other countries to jointly find ways and means to resolve drug problem.
However, there are yet to be means and measures that definitely ensure the achievement in suppression and tacking effectively of drug problem.
By foresee the long-term dangerous impact of drugs on security, stability and national socio-economic development, our Party and Government are therefore seriously committed to fighting drug which is one of the social evils, Mr Soubanh added.
“Concerning opium poppy cultivation, according to the survey in the past recent years, the total area under opium poppy cultivation has increased to 1,900 hectares in 2009 and a sharp increase in nearly two folds to 3,000 hectare in 2010 and in 2011 we do not have yet the exact figures but expect to be much more increased compared to this year,” he went. “The continued increasing of people reverts back to opium poppy cultivation is due to a lack of sufficient alternative development for ex-opium poppy growers, domestic demand for opium from remaining addicted people and high price of opium in the world market increased from US$100 in 2001 to US$16,000 at the present.
“To assure the security of the international border against illicit drug trafficking and smuggling, we together with UNODC and our closed neighbors are jointly establishing the Border Liaison Offices (BLOs) up to now we have in total 18 BLOs. In near future we will establish some more BLOs if need be.”
At the same time, we are taking necessary attempts to improve and strengthen the capacity building for drug law enforcement officials by organizing for them the in service training course, seminar or study visit within country or abroad, he proposed at the burning ceremony.
In addition, Lao PDR is the member of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) of the United Nations (representing the Asian Group).
As member for the third time of the CND (Starting from January 2010 to 2013), Lao PDR will play its appropriate role in this organization and contribute actively to the Drug-Free World.
“We are now implementing the National Drug control Master Plan which scheduled for the 2009-2013 period,” he highlighted. “The master plan included nine programmes strategy, the plan will not only address the need to sustain opium elimination but also to assure the food security and poverty alleviation of the former opium poppy growers as well as drug related crime in the Lao PDR.”
The UNODC representative to the Lao PDR Mr. Leik Boonwaat said that the Lao PDR faces serious threats from resurgence in opium poppy cultivation and increases in transnational transit trafficking of ATS, heroin and other drugs that contribute to increase drug abuse and negative social problems.
The Lao government has shown its strong political will to address this issue by approving the national drug control master plan 2009-2013.
The narcotic drugs that have been seized from drug traffickers over the past one year including heroin 77 blocs weighing 859.5 Kg, methamphetamine locally known as Yabaa weighing 186 Kg and 348g, cocaine weighing 250.3 grams, dried cannabis weighing 2,244 kg, 16 pieces of opium mixed up with cloth weighing 7.7 kg, 1,400,000 tablets of cold medicine containing chemical precursor (Pseudo-ephedrine) that can be used to produce ATS, according to an annual report of Mr. Soubanh Srithirath, Chairperson of the Lao National Commission for Drug Control and Supervision (LCDC).
High-ranking government official joining the Drug Burning Ceremony of the Seized Drugs were Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, Minister of Public Security, Mr Thongbanh Seng-aphone and diplomatic corps.
The drugs displayed for the burning at this ceremony are from 47 cases judged by the Court of Vientiane Capital and nearby provinces, with 93 offenders. As for the drug seized in other provinces of the country, after judged by Courts, LCDC has also instructed provincial Committee for Drug Control and Supervision (PCDC) to burn and destroy them in place, Mr. Soubanh said.
One of the challenges for international community at the present time is the scourge of drugs. The danger of drug abuse and drug related crime is the source of various social evils. Drugs destroy peaceful life, property and security of the people. The scourge of drugs poses also negative impact to the socio-economic development of the country. Although many countries in the world have set up internal measures or cooperate with other countries to jointly find ways and means to resolve drug problem.
However, there are yet to be means and measures that definitely ensure the achievement in suppression and tacking effectively of drug problem.
By foresee the long-term dangerous impact of drugs on security, stability and national socio-economic development, our Party and Government are therefore seriously committed to fighting drug which is one of the social evils, Mr Soubanh added.
“Concerning opium poppy cultivation, according to the survey in the past recent years, the total area under opium poppy cultivation has increased to 1,900 hectares in 2009 and a sharp increase in nearly two folds to 3,000 hectare in 2010 and in 2011 we do not have yet the exact figures but expect to be much more increased compared to this year,” he went. “The continued increasing of people reverts back to opium poppy cultivation is due to a lack of sufficient alternative development for ex-opium poppy growers, domestic demand for opium from remaining addicted people and high price of opium in the world market increased from US$100 in 2001 to US$16,000 at the present.
“To assure the security of the international border against illicit drug trafficking and smuggling, we together with UNODC and our closed neighbors are jointly establishing the Border Liaison Offices (BLOs) up to now we have in total 18 BLOs. In near future we will establish some more BLOs if need be.”
At the same time, we are taking necessary attempts to improve and strengthen the capacity building for drug law enforcement officials by organizing for them the in service training course, seminar or study visit within country or abroad, he proposed at the burning ceremony.
In addition, Lao PDR is the member of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) of the United Nations (representing the Asian Group).
As member for the third time of the CND (Starting from January 2010 to 2013), Lao PDR will play its appropriate role in this organization and contribute actively to the Drug-Free World.
“We are now implementing the National Drug control Master Plan which scheduled for the 2009-2013 period,” he highlighted. “The master plan included nine programmes strategy, the plan will not only address the need to sustain opium elimination but also to assure the food security and poverty alleviation of the former opium poppy growers as well as drug related crime in the Lao PDR.”
The UNODC representative to the Lao PDR Mr. Leik Boonwaat said that the Lao PDR faces serious threats from resurgence in opium poppy cultivation and increases in transnational transit trafficking of ATS, heroin and other drugs that contribute to increase drug abuse and negative social problems.
The Lao government has shown its strong political will to address this issue by approving the national drug control master plan 2009-2013.
