ONCB launches multi-pronged drug crackdown

Earlier, on Saturday, some 98 suspected drug abusers were rounded up from 112 Bangkok communities and 72 of them admitted to a rehabilitation centre.
ONCB chief Permpong Chawalit said although most people were satisfied with the government’s drug policy, the problem still persisted in some areas as traffickers defied the law and did not care about the adverse impact their business was having on children, youths and society in general.
So, he said, related agencies had joined forces to tackle this problem and would monitor at-risk areas for the next three months. The operation would include preventive measures and rehabilitation schemes, Permpong said.
In a previous operation, 90 sites in six provinces had been covered, including 20 locations in Bangkok, 35 in Ayutthaya, six in Kalasin, 18 in Phayao, three in Surat Thai and eight in Phattalung. Officials had rounded up 44 drug abusers and arrested 10 suspects and confiscated drugs, weapons and other valuables worth Bt30,000, he said.
ONCB officials also helped seize the assets of traffickers – a task that started on July 1 and will run until September. It had covered 100 sites |so far, with 32 suspects arrested and |33,000 yaba pills and other drugs |worth Bt60 million seized, he said.