regional cooperation is critical to effectively tackle the illicit cross-border shipments for trade and production of drugs, Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya said on February 9
REGIONAL MEETING
Paiboon chaired an intergovernmental meeting on February 9 to discuss measures for the regulation of precursor chemicals to prevent contraband activities. Representatives from eight countries Cambodia, China, India, South Korea Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand attended the conference. Representatives exchanged information on narcotics production and trafficking, vowing to strengthen regional cooperation for a cohesive crackdown on illegal drugs trade in Asia.
SMUGGLING HUB
Paiboon stressed the importance of drug control, saying measures to prevent trafficking can only go so far without efforts to curb production. Thailand is a hub for regional narcotics smuggling due to its northern border, through which chemical caches are smuggled from Myanmar and China, Paiboon said. Myanmar authorities last year seized more than 10 million tablets and precursor stashes which could have methamphetamine produced up to 200 million pills, according to Paiboon.
GROUP DECISION
Permphong Chavalit, the secretary-general for the Narcotics Control Board, warned that any policy decision for precursor chemicals must be taken collaboratively, as each country has different regulations regarding synthetic compounds. Because many legal pharmaceuticals can be diverted into illegal drugs, a precursor chemical may be considered a non- controlled substance in one country but be banned in another Permphong explained.
Exercises
Specify whether each of the following words is used in the story as a verb, noun or adjective.
1. tackle
2. synthetic
3. crackdown
4. measures