Gov urges police to work harder on drug cases

PHUKET: Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura has urged local police to concentrate their efforts in the war on drugs. He was speaking at a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday.

The Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) reported to the meeting that most teenage drug cases involved two main drugs – ya bah (methamphetamine) and cannabis – and that most teenagers were able to buy drugs with money obtained from their parents.

The National Command Center for Combating Narcotic Drugs (NCCD) Phuket Branch, reported that Phuket has an annual budget of just over 1.6 million baht to fund its anti-drugs initiatives.

The NCCD said that in August, 55 people were arrested for drug offenses in Phuket and that there has been an increase in the number of users on the island, especially around the Patong area. However, if looked at on a national scale, Phuket is not considered a problem province.

The NCCD also said that most dealers bring illegal substances to Phuket from Narathiwat Province.

Gov Udomsak ended the meeting by asking the NCCD to examine the problem of illegal drugs carefully.