Phuket ramps up surveillance, detection and better education about illicit drugs

With increased scrutiny at the island’s northern checkpoint at Tha Chatchai, drug smugglers have been rolling out fresh ways of getting illicit drugs onto the island.

A meeting of the provincial government has noted that the interception of drugs in Phuket and the increasing use of illicit drugs by local youths are the major challenges for law enforcement officials. The meeting, chaired by VG Supoj Rotreuang Na Nongkhai, noted that although Tha Chatchai checkpoint was still a major location for interception, the Marine Police and Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command have been stepping up measures to identify and intercept drug shipments onto the island around the coast.

Regarding younger drug users, the meeting said they were continuing their co-ordination with schools with the ongoing campaign to share information about the harm caused by illicit drugs in the community – in villages and workplaces.

The meeting urged officials to continue combatting the influx of drugs onto the island and accelerate operations, co-ordinate with other local enforcement and rehabilitation agencies, and apply for budgets allocated for the island’s anti-drugs campaigns.

PHOTO: Phuket’s Vice Governor Supoj Rotreuang Na NongkhaiPhuket – PR News