16 Tonnes of narcotic drugs seized at Thai border destroyed

BANGKOK, 11 June 2015 (NNT) -16,165 Kilograms of Isosafrole and Safrol, Schedule 4 Narcotic Drug seized since 2008 in Trat Province were destroyed today by the Office of the Narcotics Control Board.

The destruction of the drugs is carried out in line with Section 101 of the Narcotics Act B.E. 2522 and the Regulation of the Ministry of Public Health on Storage of Narcotic Drug Exhibits B.E. 2541 (1998) after the case of confiscation had come to an end.

According to Justice Minister General Paiboon Koomchaya, many narcotics seizures have made Thailand seen as transit country of illicit drugs. Therefore, a strict control of drug precursors and related chemicals is being implemented to block an access to production sites outside the country.

The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) has recently organized a conference on drugs interdiction and law enforcement with participants from eight affected countries used as manufacturing or transit sites, including Cambodia, China, India, Korea, Laos, Republic of Korea, Myanmar and Vietnam.

“New regulations against state officials who have a major involvement in drug smuggling across the border will be devised. We also plan to fully amend Narcotics Act to address the problem” Gen Paiboon confirms.

Thailand has now been conducting a Safe Mekhong Operation Project, in cooperation with China, Laos and Myanmar to address the drug smuggling issue, during which 20 tonnes of Methylene Chloride, the main substance of Methamphetamine, were seized. If turned into drugs, these substances could have a market value of 8.36 billion baht.

The first incineration of Safrol took place in September 10, 2010, burning totally 50.4 tonnes or 240 drum, equivalent to approximately 63 million tablets of Ecstasy.

According to the Narcotics Act B.E. 2522 (1979) Isosafrole and Safrol, used in the medicinal, perfume and food industries, is categorized as Narcotic Drug Schedule 4. Its production, import, export, distribution and possession need permission from the Food and Drug Administration. The Substance is used for the production of Ecstasy — widespread Club Drug widely used by teenagers while exploring nightlife.