Date sent:        Sat, 07 Feb 1998 12:13:25 -0600
From:             Michael Novick <mnovickttt@pop.igc.apc.org>

Saturday  February 7  1998

Thailand
Stimulant abuse at record levels
 

GREG TORODE in Bangkok
Methamphetamine abuse is reaching unprecedented levels and is causing more
problems than heroin, authorities warned yesterday.

Senior Thai Narcotics Control Board official Chartichai Suthiklom said the
potentially lethal stimulant had found its way into schools and
universities from its traditional market of farmers, truck drivers and
fishermen.

"There just seems to be no way to stop it," said Mr Chartichai, director
for law enforcement.

"People take it to work harder and for fun as well. It is cheap and
extremely dangerous. Most of our efforts are going towards trying to smash
the new threat. It is causing us far more problems than even heroin."

Seizure figures of the easily concealed drug for the last year were now
being calculated and early estimates suggested a record of more than 10
million tablets had been seized.

The drug is manufactured in refineries on the border with Laos and Burma.

Mr Chartichai's comments came as Thai police warned they had no plans to
release 2.5 tonnes of ephedrine - a key ingredient for the drug also known
as "ice" - seized on its way from India to North Korea last week.

North Korean diplomats have made a formal request to the Thai Foreign
Ministry for the haul to be released, saying it had been cleared by the
United Nations' International Narcotics Control Board.

"They can have all the approvals they like . . . but this stuff is banned
in Thailand so we have no choice but to investigate fully," a senior
officer said.

"That is the law, even if it takes several months before a conclusion is
reached. It has to be remembered that this substance has no legitimate use
in Thailand. We don't care how urgent it is for them, they must wait."

After more than six months of negotiations, North Korea convinced the board
the ephedrine was needed for legitimate medicinal requirements. Approval
for the shipment - the first for more than two years - was only granted
after the order was reduced from eight tonnes.

Several foreign diplomats are monitoring the case, fearing Pyongyang is
producing and trafficking in methamphetamine to earn hard currency vital to
a collapsing economy.
 

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