BANGKOK: In a courtesy call to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Wednesday (July 31), US Ambassador to Thailand Robert Frank Godec pledged support for Thailand’s fight against drug abuse and trafficking.
Joining him were Roshni Nirody, director of the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and Mark Snyder, assistant regional director of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Chai Wacharonke, the government’s spokesman, said the premier told the US delegation that his government was serious about drug suppression.
He said he had handed down a policy for police and other concerned agencies to come up with tangible results within the first 90 days of his tenure, and the first 60 days of this period have passed.
Srettha also said his government would welcome US aid and cooperation to prevent the smuggling of drugs along the borders.
Chai said the US ambassador had expressed admiration for Thailand’s leadership in fighting drug trafficking in the region.
The ambassador said the US was willing to share its experience in the suppression of drugs and to tighten cooperation with the Thai government to fight trafficking.
The ambassador also pledged financial aid and tools to help Thailand detect and prevent drug smuggling and was willing to train Thai drug enforcement officers as well.
The two sides also pledged continued and close cooperation between Thailand’s Narcotics Control Board and the US DEA.
Apart from cooperating with Thailand to fight drug trafficking, the ambassador said the US would also seek to cooperate with Thailand’s neighbours to crackdown on the smuggling of drugs. – The Nation/ANN
