U.S. to help stem drug flow from Golden Triangle

U.S. to help stem drug flow from Golden Triangle

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): The United States has expressed willingness to help countries in the Asia-Pacific region stem the flow of drugs from the Golden Triangle, Malaysian newspapers reported yesterday.

Malaysia's Deputy Home Minister Megat Junid Megat Ayob was quoted as saying the United States had set aside US$22 billion to draw up programs to stop the drug supply from the area.

"Individually, Asian countries cannot act against the poppy farmers in Burma, which forms a major part of the triangle, as the activities are controlled by drug lord Khun Sa and his army," Megat Junid said.

"As such, we need an international force to pressure Khun Sa to stop his operations."

Megat Junid said he recently met U.S. representative and chief advisor on narcotics, Lee Brown, to discuss the issue.

Brown was in Kuala Lumpur earlier this month on one of his series of visits to several Asia-Pacific countries to discuss the drug problem.

"We are prepared to take part in the U.S.-initiated program because it will also indirectly benefit us as we believe the heroin in the local market originate from the Golden Triangle," Megat Junid said.

The Golden Triangle -- comprising parts of Myanmar, Thailand and Laos -- produces between 2,500 and 3,000 tons of heroin a year.

Megat Junid said the United States had managed to convince Thai poppy farmers to switch to other commercial crops but was not successful in Myanmar.

He said that while Colombia, a major heroin producer, had taken steps against the drug trade, the Myanmarese government was having problems dealing with Khun Sa.

"Khun Sa uses drug money to finance his army to fight Burmese government troops," Megat Junid said.