Thailand, Myanmar to fight drugs

Thailand, Myanmar to fight drugs

BANGKOK (AFP): Myanmar and Thailand announced on Tuesday a joint crackdown on drugs to meet a deadline to eliminate drug trafficking and drug use in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The agreement was made during meetings in northern Thailand between Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekapi and his Myanmar counterpart Senior General Than Shwe, who departed here on Tuesday.

"They agreed to intensify the cooperation and coordination of law enforcement efforts with the aim of achieving the total eradication of illicit drug production, processing, trafficking and use in ASEAN by the year 2020," a joint statement issued here said.

Myanmar joined ASEAN in 1997 despite protests from many western nations which allege gross human rights violations and say the ruling junta in Myanmar is profiting from the drug trade.