ASEAN Airport Interdiction Task Force - AAITF Training in Lao PDR

News / View / AAITF

Tuesday 24th of January 2017

ASEAN Airport Interdiction Task Force - AAITF Training in Lao PDR

                AAITF- Thailand by the ONCB cooperated with AAITF- Lao PDR by the LCDC in organizing the AAITF Training on 7-8 June 2018 in Luang Prabang. The training was initiated by LCDC with the objectives to enhance the capacity of operational law enforcement personnel from concerned agencies of Lao PDR in interdicting the illicit drugs smuggling and trafficking via the international airports since Lao PDR has faced the problem of illicit drugs trafficking by air and their law enforcement officers are in need to increase the skill and experiences in making the search at the airport. The AAITF- Thailand was invited to send the instructors to the training. AAITF- Thailand instructors were senior law enforcement officers from the ONCB and the Royal Thai Customs and AAITF Coordinator, Mr. Prin Mekhanan. The training contents focussed on the search technic, the interdiction technic as well as the field exercise at the Luang Prabang International Airport. The participants comprised law enforcement personnel from LCDC, Wattay International Airport Authority, Luang Prabang International Airport Authority, Police Department, Customs Department, Immigration Department, and police officers from 2 mentioned international airports totalling 20 participants.

               At the closing of the training on 8 June 2018, Mr. Sirinya Sitdhichai, Secretary-General of the Narcotics Control Board was invited to co-chaired the closing ceremony with Mr. Onephiou Khongviengthong, Head of Permanent Secretariat, LCDC and conferred the training certificates to the participants. In addition, after the closing ceremony both heads of the national drug control agencies had take the opportunity to have the consultation meeting on the cooperation between the ONCB and the LCDC in the area of alternative development and the interdiction of illicit drug trafficking along Lao-Thai border. The consultation was also attended by Mr. Phoutsavath Sounthala, Deputy Head of Permanent Secretariat of LCDC, Mr. Inpong Chanthavongsa, Deputy Director-General of Police, Mr. Chotipun Jullapech, Minister Counsellor (Narcotics Control) of the Royal Thai Embassy in Vientiane and Ms. Malai Prasartsong, Director of ASEAN Cooperation Division, ONCB.

                The AAITF Training in Lao PDR was an important activity that reflected the cooperation and strong intention of Lao PDR and Thailand to eliminate the illicit drug trafficking in ASEAN region under the ASEAN Airport Interdiction Task Force initiated by Thailand which supports the implementation of ASEAN Work Plan on Securing ASEAN Communities Against Illicit Drugs 2016-2025.