Over 10 tonnes of drugs seized in past three months

Most of the drugs confiscated by police were discovered in Bokeo province. - Vientiane Times/Asia News Network

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/Asia News Network): Police across the country have confiscated more than 10 tonnes of amphetamines in the last three months and processed 1,106 cases of drug dealing and trafficking.

Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh reported the figures to the National Assembly on Monday, saying that the implementation of the National Drug Agenda, which began in August, had broken up drug production sources, transport networks and drug gangs.

Some 1,562 suspects had been arrested, 10,158kg (101,586,361 tablets) of amphetamine were seized and other drugs such as ice, opium and heroin were impounded.

The government will continue to wage war on drugs and will also follow the Party’s foreign policy to ensure the nation continues to be stable, peaceful and orderly, he said.

Most of the drugs confiscated by police were discovered in Bokeo province, with one drug bust resulting in the arrest of two men when police seized 55,664,000 amphetamine tablets found in their possession.

They also confiscated 65 bags of crystal methamphetamine.

In another drug haul in Bokeo, police found six million amphetamine tablets hidden in a pick-up truck that was driving through Tonpheung district.

The government is determined to curb the use of and trade in drugs across Laos, amid the spiralling trafficking of narcotics, according to the Ministry of Public Security.