Nakhon phanom: The Second Army Region has successfully showcased its comprehensive drug suppression efforts over the past year, seizing over 150 million methamphetamine pills and other narcotics valued at more than 10 billion baht. This significant achievement underscores the ongoing battle against drug trafficking along the northeastern border.
According to Thai News Agency, Lt. Gen. Boonsin Phadklang, who serves as both the Commander of the 2nd Army Region and the Narcotics, Precursor and Chemical Suppression Command in the Northeastern Border Region, presided over a ceremony marking the occasion. During the event, he presented certificates of honor to 10 units recognized for their outstanding performance, alongside awards for 40 units that achieved exceptional results in seizures and arrests.
The drug suppression efforts, covering the fiscal year 2025, targeted border districts across seven provinces and 25 districts identified as areas of urgent need. The comprehensive strategy included preventing the smuggling of drugs, precursors, and chemicals, treating drug-addicted psychiatric patients, establishing resilient communities to combat drug addiction, and fostering cooperation with neighboring countries to tackle drug-related issues in the border areas of Loei, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen, and Ubon Ratchathani provinces.
From October 1, 2014, to August 31, 2015, authorities arrested 1,453 suspects and seized substantial quantities of narcotics, including 150,594,083 methamphetamine pills, 8,516 kilograms of ice, 151 kilograms of heroin, and 796 kilograms of ketamine. The total value of these seizures exceeded 10 billion baht, with significant operations resulting in the confiscation of millions of methamphetamine pills on 47 occasions and hundreds of thousands of pills on 110 occasions. Nakhon Phanom saw the highest number of methamphetamine pill seizures, followed by Nong Khai and Mukdahan. Additionally, there were 24 instances where 100 kilograms or more of crystal methamphetamine were seized, with Loei Province and Nakhon Phanom leading in these operations.