The ONCB hosted the Senior Officials and Ministerial Meetings on Drug Control Cooperation among Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand on 14-15 December 2016 in Ubon Ratchathani Province

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Friday 16th of December 2016

The ONCB hosted the Senior Officials and Ministerial Meetings on Drug Control Cooperation among Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand on 14-15 December 2016 in Ubon Ratchathani Province

                  On 15 December 2016, at Ubon Ratchathani Province, the ONCB hosted the Ministerial Meeting on Drug Control Cooperation among Cambodia, Laos, Thailand for the enhancement of cooperation under the Three-Year Plan of the Safe Mekong Project and consideration of the Two-Year Safe Lower Mekong Operation Plan (2017-2018) focusing on the implementation in the lower Mekong Sub-region to intercept illicit precursors trafficking to the Golden Triangle and suppress the illicit drugs trafficking from the Golden Triangle down to the Lower Mekong. It is a part of the Three-Year Safe Mekong Operation Plan (2016-2018). This is in response to the policy to tackle the illicit drug production in the Golden Triangle initiated by H.E. Gen. Paiboon Koomchaya, Privy Councillor when he was the Minister of Justice. The The Ministerial Meeting was chaired by H.E.General Nivat Menayotin, Vice Minister of Justice, head of Thai Delegation. It was attended by Cambodia, headed by H.E. Mr. Kao Khondara, Vice Chairman of National Authority for Combating Drugs, and Laos headed by H.E. Mr. Kou Chansina, Chairman of Lao National Commission on Drug Control and Supervision (LCDC). Prior to the Ministerial Meeting, the Senior Officials Meeting was held on 14 December and was chaired by Mr.Sirinya Sitdhichai, Secretary-General of the Narcotics Control Board (NCB), head of Thai Delegation. It was attended by Cambodia, headed by Pol.Gen. Meas Vyrith, Secretary-General of NACD, head of Cambodia Delegation and Laos, headed by Mr. Phouthsavath Sunthala, Deputy Head of LCDC, head of Laos Delegation. The Senior Officials Meeting jointly formulated the Two-Year Safe Lower Mekong Operation Plan (2017-2018) as the framework/guidelines for the implementation of the Safe Mekong Project in the lower Mekong part and determined the target area of operation as well as considered to launch the Parallel Village Cooperation in the border area of the three countries. The Ministerial Meeting agreed to and adopted the Two-Year Safe Lower Mekong Operation Plan (2017-2018) proposed by the Senior Officials Meeting with 8 target area of operation in 3 countries, namely Preah Vihear, Stung Treng Provinces of Cambodia; Champasak, Salavan, Savannakhet Provinces of Laos; Ubon Ratchathani, Si Saket and Amnat Charoen Provinces of Thailand and defined the target operation areas for land route and waterway interception. Four key measures to be implemented under the Plan are suppression, Parallel Village Cooperation, utilization of BLO mechanism and project administration measures; suppression and Prallel Village Cooperation measure are highlighted. Suppression measure consists of 4 parts, i.e. suppression of illicit precursors and essential chemicals, interception of drug smuggling by land route and along the Mekong River, investigation of target drug traffickers/trafficking syndicates , intelligence cooperation and exchange. Three countries agreed to set up checkpoints in target areas to respond to drug suppression measure: 5 checkpoints along Cambodia border, 5 checkpoints along Laos border and 17 checkpoints along Thailand borders, totaling 27 checkpoints. Parallel Village Cooperation measure focuses on the development and elevate the quality of life of people in target villages along Cambodia-Laos-Thailand borders so that they will have better quality of life and safe from illicit drugs : Cambodia-Thailand 2 pairs, Cambodia-Laos 3 pairs and Laos-Thailand 10 pairs. Activities on drug control will be integrated such as drug prevention and campaign, surveillance of illicit drug smuggling, community-based treatment, all of activities needs participation of people in the village as well as provincial authorities. Three countries will further discuss in detail on each activity under the Plan. Three countries agreed to use their own budget in implementing the activities under the Plan, however, the capacity building for law enforcement officers working in the areas and for law enforcement units/checkpoints such as trainings, equipment are needed In this regards, the requested support plan will be formulated to seek the support from ASEAN countries that have more capacity or other donor countries or international organizations.