Thailand launches nationwide crackdown on drugs
The operation is being called "No Drugs No Dealers." It involves the governors of Bangkok and all 76 provinces, as well the Royal Thai Police.
The plan is to disrupt supply chains, seize the assets of producers, identify users for treatment and support, and foster cooperation across national borders.
It comes amid a rise in health and social problems among the country's young people as a result of drugs.
Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said: "Drugs are a threat that has long undermined our nation. The drug problem is therefore a national issue that the government is determined to eradicate from Thailand."
The government believes much of the production takes place in the so-called "Golden Triangle," which straddles the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime says 130 tons of methamphetamine were seized in Thailand last year. It was the first time the amount exceeded 100 tons.
Exacerbating the problem is the fact that drugs are being widely bought and sold online in the form of tablets, known as "Yaba."
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