has thailand's drug policy always been harsh?

[marc26]

i dont why i was wondering this, but does anyone know if their drug policy has always been harsh? if it wasnt, when did it start?

[jimholio]

Not in northern Thailand, i believe some villages are allowed to smoke Opium not 100% sure tho, something i heard a long time ago.

[seafox]

Originally Posted by marc26

i dont why i was wondering this, but does anyone know if their drug policy has always been harsh? if it wasnt, when did it start?

From my understanding it has always been a very serious offense for at least 25 or so years and almost every asian country has the same policy or close to it.

[Petter]

Its copi and paste but it tells you something

According to Thai military officials, the foremost threat to Thailand's national security -- greater than any since the communist insurgency of the 1970s and early 1980s -- lies along the northern border. It consists of a mass of highly addictive methamphetamine pills, (known locally as ya ba, which translates to “crazy medicine”) produced in Myanmar for the Thai market by the United Wa State Army (UWSA), minority insurgents at present in a cease-fire agreement with Yangon.

In January 2000, both then Royal Thai Army (RTA) commander General Surayud Chulanont and Thai Armed Forces Supreme Commander General Mongkol Ampornpisit inspected troops along the northern border. They were followed in early February by General Boonlert Kaewprasit, head of the RTA's Narcotics Suppression Committee, who, after a three day tour of the (northern) Third Army Region stated that: "The situation is now quite critical and decisive action inevitable."

The impact of methamphetamine abuse in Thai society over the past several years has reached crisis proportions. From an early user-base among sugar cane workers and long distance truck-drivers, Myanmar- produced methamphetamine has spread to infiltrate homes, schools, offices and factories throughout the country. The pandemic of ‘ya ba' has left in its wake a widening swathe of organized crime, official corruption, street violence and broken families. The impact among youths and students has been most severe. A September 1999 survey of 32 of Thailand's 76 provinces, including Bangkok, found that 12.4 per cent of youth in secondary and tertiary education were either using or dealing drugs and nearly 55 per cent of that group were using methamphetamines.

A variety of insurgent groups inside Myanmar are involved in various drug production and trafficking activities. However, it is believed that all of the methamphetamine tablets smuggled into Thailand last year were produced in areas controlled by the UWSA. RTA. Some reports have stated that up to a billion tablets were smuggled into Thailand in 2003 from UWSA labs in Myanmar.

The government estimates that three million Thais, or five percent of the population are methamphetamine users. Prime Minister Thaksin’s war against drugs produced some results. Between February and August 2003, over 51,000 arrests and 2000 extra-judicial deaths have occurred, causing worry among human rights watchers. Thaksin is still unsatisfied with the results and has threatened harsh action against Wa drug traffickers if Burma does not act. In addition, scandals have also brought police corruption to the public forefront; an issue in which Thaksin must contend. After five months of closure, borders reopened with Burma, but differences remain over boundary alignment and the handling of ethnic rebels, refugees, and illegal cross-border activities, especially illicit transfer of drugs.

Thailand’s War on Drugs “victory” is temporary. PM Thaksin’s campaign has decimated the drug market at the local drug trafficker and street-user level, but it has not reduced cross-border trafficking or attacked the drug trade’s higher elements. Additionally, his battle against “Dark Influences” has been ineffective, with few arrests of note. Thailand’s King has even tactfully admonished PM Thaksin for his ebullient trumpeting of a victory, when in fact the war is far from over. Burma and Laos are still major contributors to Thailand’s drug problem, and most major Thai druglords remain free. In fact, traffickers have simply changed routes or are storing their product in border areas awaiting a time for safe shipment. While Thaksin’s “war” has had a major impact on Thailand’s drug problem, it should be viewed as a relatively successful campaign in a long war, and not as a victorious end to the war itself.

Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej, while highly praising the prime minister, also called him to task during the King’s birthday speech. The King requested a full inquiry into all drug related deaths – a request celebrated by Human Rights and Health agencies. However the investigation is not going to be conducted by an independent source, so it is widely believed that the police and government agencies will be exonerated. The King also tactfully attempted to tell the PM that, while victory may be claimed, the drug war is far from over. PM Thaksin accepted the admonishment as a learning tool and promised to execute the King’s wishes. Prime Minister Thaksin has initiated talks with Burma and Laos to discuss more stringent border control measures.

While these country’s leaders are publicly accepting many of the plans for stemming drug flow from their countries, very little implementation has actually occurred. This has caused the PM to vacillate between rage at Burma and full support for Burma’s junta, much to the dismay of the United States. Additionally, drug production in these countries did not stop for Thailand’s war on drugs, though cross border trafficking was severely curtailed. According to some sources this resulted in around 800 million yaba tablets being stored along the Thai/Burma border waiting for the anti-drug pressure to subside. PM Thaksin has also begun a second war, this one a war on dark influences, aimed at eliminating the high level drug traffickers and the government personnel protecting or backing them. This war has had very few published successes as the financial and political backing of these influential people is deeply intertwined with Thaksin’s own government. His second war will take much longer and show no clear, quantifiable victory, but, if successful, will do more to defeat drug use in the long run, than his war on drugs did. he PRC has suffered an explosion of heroin abuse (and AIDS) as a result of high-grade heroin smuggled from Kokang and the Wa Hills, through southwest China to Hong Kong, Taiwan and North America. In early 1994, UWSA Chief Pao You-chang was reportedly summoned to Kunming, Yunnan's provincial capital, for a stern warning from Chinese security officials on keeping narcotics out of the PRC.

[stevem]

Originally Posted by jimholio

Not in northern Thailand, i believe some villages are allowed to smoke Opium not 100% sure tho, something i heard a long time ago.

Comparing laws for locals and farang is like comparing apples and oranges

[JayBee]

Originally Posted by Petter

Its copi and paste but it tells you something

According to Thai military officials, the foremost threat to Thailand's national security -- greater than any since the communist insurgency of the 1970s and early 1980s -- lies along the northern border. It consists of a mass of highly addictive methamphetamine pills, (known locally as ya ba, which translates to “crazy medicine”) produced in Myanmar for the Thai market by the United Wa State Army (UWSA), minority insurgents at present in a cease-fire agreement with Yangon.

In January 2000, both then Royal Thai Army (RTA) commander General Surayud Chulanont and Thai Armed Forces Supreme Commander General Mongkol Ampornpisit inspected troops along the northern border. They were followed in early February by General Boonlert Kaewprasit, head of the RTA's Narcotics Suppression Committee, who, after a three day tour of the (northern) Third Army Region stated that: "The situation is now quite critical and decisive action inevitable."

The impact of methamphetamine abuse in Thai society over the past several years has reached crisis proportions. From an early user-base among sugar cane workers and long distance truck-drivers, Myanmar- produced methamphetamine has spread to infiltrate homes, schools, offices and factories throughout the country. The pandemic of ‘ya ba' has left in its wake a widening swathe of organized crime, official corruption, street violence and broken families. The impact among youths and students has been most severe. A September 1999 survey of 32 of Thailand's 76 provinces, including Bangkok, found that 12.4 per cent of youth in secondary and tertiary education were either using or dealing drugs and nearly 55 per cent of that group were using methamphetamines.

A variety of insurgent groups inside Myanmar are involved in various drug production and trafficking activities. However, it is believed that all of the methamphetamine tablets smuggled into Thailand last year were produced in areas controlled by the UWSA. RTA. Some reports have stated that up to a billion tablets were smuggled into Thailand in 2003 from UWSA labs in Myanmar.

The government estimates that three million Thais, or five percent of the population are methamphetamine users. Prime Minister Thaksin’s war against drugs produced some results. Between February and August 2003, over 51,000 arrests and 2000 extra-judicial deaths have occurred, causing worry among human rights watchers. Thaksin is still unsatisfied with the results and has threatened harsh action against Wa drug traffickers if Burma does not act. In addition, scandals have also brought police corruption to the public forefront; an issue in which Thaksin must contend. After five months of closure, borders reopened with Burma, but differences remain over boundary alignment and the handling of ethnic rebels, refugees, and illegal cross-border activities, especially illicit transfer of drugs.

Thailand’s War on Drugs “victory” is temporary. PM Thaksin’s campaign has decimated the drug market at the local drug trafficker and street-user level, but it has not reduced cross-border trafficking or attacked the drug trade’s higher elements. Additionally, his battle against “Dark Influences” has been ineffective, with few arrests of note. Thailand’s King has even tactfully admonished PM Thaksin for his ebullient trumpeting of a victory, when in fact the war is far from over. Burma and Laos are still major contributors to Thailand’s drug problem, and most major Thai druglords remain free. In fact, traffickers have simply changed routes or are storing their product in border areas awaiting a time for safe shipment. While Thaksin’s “war” has had a major impact on Thailand’s drug problem, it should be viewed as a relatively successful campaign in a long war, and not as a victorious end to the war itself.

Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej, while highly praising the prime minister, also called him to task during the King’s birthday speech. The King requested a full inquiry into all drug related deaths – a request celebrated by Human Rights and Health agencies. However the investigation is not going to be conducted by an independent source, so it is widely believed that the police and government agencies will be exonerated. The King also tactfully attempted to tell the PM that, while victory may be claimed, the drug war is far from over. PM Thaksin accepted the admonishment as a learning tool and promised to execute the King’s wishes. Prime Minister Thaksin has initiated talks with Burma and Laos to discuss more stringent border control measures.

While these country’s leaders are publicly accepting many of the plans for stemming drug flow from their countries, very little implementation has actually occurred. This has caused the PM to vacillate between rage at Burma and full support for Burma’s junta, much to the dismay of the United States. Additionally, drug production in these countries did not stop for Thailand’s war on drugs, though cross border trafficking was severely curtailed. According to some sources this resulted in around 800 million yaba tablets being stored along the Thai/Burma border waiting for the anti-drug pressure to subside. PM Thaksin has also begun a second war, this one a war on dark influences, aimed at eliminating the high level drug traffickers and the government personnel protecting or backing them. This war has had very few published successes as the financial and political backing of these influential people is deeply intertwined with Thaksin’s own government. His second war will take much longer and show no clear, quantifiable victory, but, if successful, will do more to defeat drug use in the long run, than his war on drugs did. he PRC has suffered an explosion of heroin abuse (and AIDS) as a result of high-grade heroin smuggled from Kokang and the Wa Hills, through southwest China to Hong Kong, Taiwan and North America. In early 1994, UWSA Chief Pao You-chang was reportedly summoned to Kunming, Yunnan's provincial capital, for a stern warning from Chinese security officials on keeping narcotics out of the PRC.

Good article! Very informative. But when was it written?

[LivinLOS]

I think it was only back in the 70's when opium houses were commonplace in most cities.. I remember reading postings from someone who had lived back in those days and it seemed a very open business arrangement.

Of course there is a massive difference between having a pipe or two of opium and a mellow nap and the harshness and general nastyness associated with ya ba.. Ya ba ranks right up there with PCP and Ice as being some of the most screwed up stuff you can get on..

[Crustasian]

I believe Thailand's policy is not too harsh.Like all other Asian countries they are under a lot of heavy international pressure to erase the drug trade.This will never be achievied but Thailand is doing what it can to help.

In most recent cases involving foreigners who were sentenced to life and then got a King's pardon the person was repatriated to their own country. Instead of serving out their sentence became celebs and started doing books cashing in on their story.

Any one who is a drug smuggler deserves what sentence the Thai courts give them.

A good deterrent for any would be volunteer mule is to read the book
"Damage Done" by Warren Fellows.

[H3X]

I can confirm the MiB obsession for catching drug traffikers over the festive season. ALL villages in Loei had police + army checkpoints up basically blocking the road with cones and flashing triangles and make you zig-zag slowly past them sitting in some temporary tent !

I was stopped at a police checkpoint on the 27th Dec in my hire car driving into Loei town where there was a huge cue of stopped vehicles, pickup trucks etc... never seen so many cops or shades of brown.

Well when I got to the front there was whoops of 'UUUUAGHHH FALANG FALANG....' and I was immediately given the most closest attention by about 7 cops surrounding my car and directing me to pull over next to the temporary hut. There was no escape......

They searched everywhere, inside the engine compartment , the petrol cap, boot, my pockets, bags etc etc eventually I was allowed on my way after about 15 mins. GF told me they look for ya ba and Laos immigrants !

I had neither....but it was a hire car from Udon Thani and like BG... you never know whos been there before....

H3X

[JayBee]

Originally Posted by H3X

I had neither....but it was a hire car from Udon Thani and like BG... you never know whos been there before....

The scene you describe remnds me very much of my experiences in Mexico.

You make a very good point about the rented car. Probably a good idea to remember to give a rented vehicle a good once over when you first get into it, or soon after. If someone had pills in there, drops one or two, rolls under the seat or slips between the cushions, they might not take the time to look for it, particularly if they are high or distracted when they dropped the pills. Just a couple of yaa baa pills found under the seats and you could be in major trouble!!