Mae Hong Son, The Interior Minister flew urgently to join the announcement of the seizure of 6.1 million methamphetamine pills and 21 kg of ketamine after integrating agencies to urgently suppress drugs in accordance with the urgent policies of the government and the Interior Ministry. It was stated that there are still a large number of drugs that are about to flood the border. On July 20, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. at Pai Police Station, Mae Hong Son Province, Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, together with Mr. Arsit Sampantharat, Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration, Mr. Chucheep Phongchai, Governor of Mae Hong Son Province, along with Colonel Maitri Chupreecha, Deputy Commander of the Naresuan Forces, Pol. Maj. Gen. Paisal Lumsomboon, Deputy Commander of Police Region 5, and Mr. Anek Panthayom, District Chief of Pai, jointly announced the seizure of a large batch of drugs transported from the border of a neighboring country into Thailand in Pai Di strict, Mae Hong Son Province. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior said that the government led by Prime Minister Settha Thavisin has given a policy to urgently solve the drug problem for 3 months (July - September 2024) to prevent and solve the drug problem sustainably by integrating all sectors proactively and continuously Re-Xraying the area. The Ministry of Interior has ordered provincial governors and district chiefs nationwide to prioritize and consider it an urgent task that must have tangible results in terms of suppression, treatment, and prevention, using the mechanism of kamnans, village headmen, and civil society networks to help keep an eye on the government. The Mae Hong Son governor has assigned each district to increase strict border control measures. Pai District has organized a special task force of the Pai District Administration, consisting of the district chief and members of the Pai District Volunteer Defense Corps, in collaboration with the Pai Police Station, Border P atrol Police 336, and the 723rd Infantry Company, Singhanat Task Force, to patrol and inspect drug trafficking as reported by an informant in Mae Na Teng Subdistrict, Pai District, Mae Hong Son Province. As of 1:30 p.m. on July 19, 2024, officers found a total of 31 sacks of drugs, consisting of 6,100,000 methamphetamine pills, 21 kg of ketamine, and 3 motorcycles parked near the point where the drugs were found in the forest near Ban Nam Pla Mung. Ban Briwar Ban Phi Lu, Village No. 9, Mae Na Teng Subdistrict, Pai District, Mae Hong Son Province, therefore, an inspection was conducted and the property was seized and sent to the Pai Police Station investigators for further legal action. However, the Minister of Interior said that there are still a lot of drugs along the northern border, ready to flood into Thailand. Therefore, I would like to commend and encourage the relevant agencies that have been working together intensively. I have received continuous reports all the time because the behavior of drug off enders still exists. If offenders are diligent in producing drugs and diligent in selling them, we must be diligent in suppressing them, along with strict inspections and enforcement, using all available laws to make drug suppression effective. The Ministry of Interior will fully enforce the law to prevent violations. 'Today, I would like to encourage all operators because in terms of drug prevention and suppression, we have a cost, which is the dedication and sacrifice of our duties. We will not allow our youth to access drugs. This operation was successful through the integration of both the administrative and security sectors, which will certainly cause damage to producers and dealers. I am confident that all our agencies have a drug prevention and suppression network and local mechanisms to intercept the spread and suppress in all areas, with the provincial governor leading the integration with provincial agencies, including the provincial police, border patrol police, military defense volunteers, provin cial ISOC, and other relevant agencies, effectively and with tangible results,' said Mr. Anutin. Source: Thai News Agency
