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lack of experience in making ground-based estimates for planted and eradicated areas.
The RTG has further stabilized the security situation along its borders with Burma
Burma and Laos, and now controls the Thai side of the border in almost all areas of the country. Khun Sa's Shan United Army has been effectively pushed out of Thailand and ethnic Chinese groups like the KMT, legally stationed in Thailand, move in armed units at risk inside of Thai territory. Nevertheless, while armed military groups
groups of the Shan United Army no longer operate inside Thai territory, the borders still are easily crossed by those engaged in traditional smuggling activities of trade goods and narcotics, and Thailand remains the route of choice for narcotics departing the Golden Triangle to the international market.
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RTG officials, especially those working with narcotics enforcement agencies such as the 7th sub-division, the Police Narcotics Suppression Center and the ONCB,
the ONCB, remain committed to enforcing the narcotics laws of Thailand and interdicting the flow of drugs through their territory. They continue to produce impressive seizure and arrest statistics. Enforcement statistics, now available for the year 1986, show that 36,408 narcotics offenders were arrested for a variety of narcotic offenses. Most of those were small-time heroin addicts
addicts and users of marijuana. Nevertheless, there were 2,350 arrested and charged with possession for sale and 63 possession for export. In 1986 there were 671 heroin seized, 2,496 kilograms of opium and 5 kilograms of morphine plus 1,916 tons of cannabis.
charged with kilograms of
Still, the efforts at effective enforcement are often frustrated by the corruption of local police and civilian government officials and the less than enthusiastic enforcement by ordinary policeman and low level government officals.
Conspiracy and assets seizure legislation proposals continue to slowly wind their way through the legislative process. We have seen some recent evidence, however, of greater interest on the part of high government officials in achieving the passage of such legislation, especially that permitting the government to seize narcotics assets.
A major initiative in 1986, continued and enhanced during the first six months of 1987, has been the willingness of units of the Border Patrol Police to act on intelligence and attack refineries located inside Thai territory. For the first time, BPP units received training from
U.S. Special Forces. specialized refinery task force created with the assistance of DEA and NAU is now a reality and some 19 refineries have been attacked and destroyed since the task force began operation.
The