Northern Thailand
Methamphetamine Production Quadruples in Thailand’s Golden Triangle
Methamphetamine production has quadrupled in Thailand’s Golden Triangle region in recent years, the head of the UNODC. Jeremy Douglas the Regional Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for Southeast Asia says that illegal manufacturers of synthetic drugs have also changed ingredients used to start the process.
In the past, drug enforcement agencies tracked pseudoephedrine and ephedrine, two chemicals used to produce methamphetamine, said Jeremy Douglas said. Now, three pre-cursors – phenyl 2-propanone, caffeine and propionyl chloride – are being used, according to a Thai press release by the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB).
“The surge that has come out of the Golden Triangle, we have never seen something like this globally, so quickly,” he said.
“There are indications that there are very sophisticated criminal activities around chemicals going on inside the Golden Triangle right now,” Douglas said. Douglas was referring to the Golden Triangle an area where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar come together.
Pseudoephedrine and ephedrine
Douglas, who spoke to BenarNews on the sideline of a meeting hosted by the Office of Narcotics Control Board of Thailand, said drug enforcers were focusing on the last six or seven years. Noting “huge surges in chemical shipments going into Laos” at the same time.
“Having four times the acceleration of meth, you are going to have four times the chemical acceleration, one type or another,” Douglas said. “We are not seeing pseudoephedrine and ephedrine which is extremely strange. Those are the base chemicals, best chemicals for meth.”
“The problem is that the foundational chemicals we usually see going into meth production aren’t being found. Pseudoephedrine and ephedrine are the profile of the drug when seized is made from them.
So again, the indication is a diversity of chemicals and special capacity to use them,” he said.
The meeting was held to announce a report on drugs in the region, however officials did not release copies to the media.
Organized crime
Douglas expressed concern for the future, noting there were more drug seizures in January than in the same month in 2020. He said another surge in 2021 could occur unless steps are taken. “Fundamentally, if you are going to slow the flow of drugs out, you have to slow the flow of chemicals in,” he said.
“The hard part now can be political. On the one hand, particularly in Myanmar, where we have special regions but also specialized economic zones along the borders,” Douglas said. “So we have to address the political elements and we have to address the law enforcement and regulatory elements.
“It is going to be a huge challenge for the region to address their industry problems and we have to get everybody at one table because what we see is organized crime.”
Thai Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin said the report noted the three precursors have been released in large quantities within the Golden Triangle.
“The objective is to seize these precursors. Because the precursor weighing 1 metric ton (1,000 kg) can produce 10 million tablets of methamphetamine,” Somsak said. “This effort to seize the new precursors and chemicals is an important indicator to demonstrate the current drug problem.”
“In the past fiscal year 2020 (ending September 2020), we were able to seize 67 percent of the precursors and chemicals and continued to shut down drug production sites,” Somsak said.
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This report has been updated to clarify information from Jeremy Douglas, Southeast Asia and Pacific representative for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The Governor of Mae Hong Son province in northern Thailand has sought stricter rules for tourist tubing on the Pai River, following allegations of tourists sneaking into resort areas to engage in sexual activities, which prompted police reports and considerable criticism online.
After a resort owner in Pai protested about the existing situation of tubing activities along the Pai River, the Governor became aware of the matter. According to the accusations, wine and beer are discreetly offered to tourists while disguised in plastic water bottles to prevent detection.
After their tubing adventures, these tourists, both men and women, would walk around Pai town in their swimsuits. Men often wear one pair of swim briefs, but most women wear two-piece swimsuits or bikinis.
This behavior was considered derogatory to local culture. Recently, there were instances of tourists slipping into resort areas to engage in sexual activities, which prompted police investigations and considerable online criticism.
Following the complaint, provincial governor Chuchip Pongchai requested a meeting of the police and allied authorities on July 16 to explore further tourism restrictions.
The province already restricts the selling of alcohol to tourists who go tubing, which involves floating down a river on inner tubes made of rubber tires. Most people observe the guidelines, but others, including some store owners, break them by concealing the alcohol by pouring it in water bottles.
According to TNA, Pai is one of Northern Thailand’s most popular tourist spots, attracting 40,000 visitors each year and strengthening Thailand’s economy.
Tubing in the Pai River has become a favorite activity among foreigners. However, the governor stated that the attitude of some tourists has jeopardised the province’s image.
Tourists Tubing on Pai River
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Police in northern Thailand’s Phayao province have arrested a 40-year-old pregnant mother for attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to create bodily harm.
Phayao Police report they were called after a woman and her daughter had been stabbed and beaten by a family member to a house number 206, Soi 7, Village No. 3, Ban San Nong Niao Subdistrict. Tom, Mueang District.
When officers arrived they found Ms. Chayada Chaiyawan, age 45, and her daughter Ms. Patida Chaiyawan, age 19, with injuries to their bodies and heads. Blood was spread all over the bedroom, and they found Mrs. Sakulkarn, aged 40 years, who was a relative living next door, tied up.
The police then transported all of them to Phayao Hospital for treatment. Ms. Chayada was stabbed thirteen times and her daughter twice. Both also sustained head injuries, according to Phayao police.
Ms. Chayada told police the incident occurred around 4:00 a.m. She was sleeping in the room with her young son, when she heard someone opened the bedroom door. She said at that time it was still dark and all she saw a shadow of a person lifting what she though was a hammer.
She said the got up and fought until she fell after being hit in the head and stabbed with a knife, in fear for her life she screamed for her daughter to come and help. When the daughter entered the room the assailant proceeded to hit her in the head and stabbed her also.
The assailant ran out of the room and was immediately restrained by a neighbour who heard the screaming and ran into the house to help. Mrs. Sakulkarn who was 7 months pregnant was tied up and police and rescue workers were called to the scene. The neighbour told police that all the time they were waiting for the police.
Police said Mrs. Sakulkarn is being held in Hospital and is under psychiatric care. Ms. Chayada and her daughter were treated for their injuries and sent home.
According to Thai Media, Police said charges of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to create bodily harm will be filed against Mrs. Sakulkarn after she is released from Hospital.
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Five people were killed and two others badly injured when a pickup truck was hit by a north-bound train at an unguarded railway crossing in Phitchit province on Monday evening.
Phitchit police reported the horrific crash occurred around 6 pm at Moo 1 village in tambon Pak Thang of Muang district of Phitchit.
Police said the 201 passenger train from Bangkok to Phitsanulok approached the crossing, which was unguarded and had no safety barriers.
A four-door pickup truck plates drove across the tracks and into the path of oncoming the train which was was unable to stop or slowdown in time to avoid hitting the pickup truck.
The force of the crash drove the pickup about 30 metres down the railway crossing and off to the side. All passengers on the pickup were thrown from the vehicle.
Three women passengers died immediately and two more passengers died later at Phichit Hospital. Two others including the driver of the pickup were seriously injured.
Police investigators said truck driver Pratya Khongthat, 40, was taking relatives, including a 14-yea-old girl, to a funeral at Wat Ratchangkhwan in tambon Pak Thang, approximately one kilometer from the accident scene.
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