The Government is stepping up efforts to prevent and suppress the spread of illicit drugs in all areas nationwide, with greater emphasis on drug control along border areas.

In a meeting of the Narcotics Control Board, held on 12 November 2024, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Phumtham Wechayachai urged all relevant agencies to accelerate anti-drug operations, saying that the drug problem was a matter of concern for people across the country.

He stressed the Government’s policy to address the drug issue decisively and comprehensively and said that the drug situation remained serious in many provinces. Both central and regional administrative areas must, therefore, regard drug control as an urgent mission and as their joint responsibility. 

The meeting approved the designation of five border districts in Kanchanaburi Province as the areas in urgent need of drug control. These districts include Sangkhla Buri, Thong Pha Phum, Mueang Kanchanaburi, Sai Yok, and Dan Makham Tia. The First Army Area Command is the major responsible agency for these border areas in western Thailand.

The Government has a firm intention to tackle the drug issue, and its anti-drug policy includes measures focusing on prevention, suppression, and rehabilitation. This begins by removing the sources of production and trade through cooperation with neighboring countries and control of illicit importation and transport routes. The assets of drug traders will also be sized.

Moreover, drug users will be uncovered in the community and they will be provided with treatment and rehabilitation, as well as vocational training and education. Social rehabilitation will also be provided, so that they can integrate into the society.  There will be monitoring systems to assist them and ensure that they will not return to the vicious drug cycle.