Myanmar denies drug allegations

Myanmar denies drug allegations

THAILAND: Myanmar denied on Sunday that drug factories inside its army camps were responsible for a massive tide of an illegal stimulant drug sweeping through Thai society.

The government said its narcotics officials were stunned by comments by a senior Thai military official that 1 billion methamphetamine pills, called "ya ba" in Thai, will be smuggled into Thailand from Myanmar next year.

The Bangkok Post quoted Thai Deputy Army Commander Gen. Wattanachai Chaimuenwong as saying on Saturday that factories manufacturing the drug were located in Burmese military camps along the border.

"Burmese soldiers are selling ya ba," it quoted him as saying. "They are back to their old activity. There are 30 to 50 drug factories along the border."

In a statement, the Myanmar government said that despite "all these groundless allegations thrown at Myanmar," its officials hope to "work together with all the countries that have been affected by this scourge".

It said the drug problem "needs to be addressed in a spirit of sincere and mutual cooperation by the entire world community." -- AP