A MEETING was held last week in Khammouan to celebrate the International Day against Drugs and Illegal Trafficking.

The meeting was held at Khammouan Stadium in Thakhek district of Khammouan province, and was attended by Mr Souban salitthilat, Minister of the Presidential Office and President of the National Committee for Drug Control, Mr Khambai Damlat, Kammouan’s Governor, and officials and students. In all there were over 200 people in attendance.

Mr Souban said that the situation of in Asia and the rest of the world is still serious in regards to drug trafficking and use.

He added that at present there are 40 kinds of amphetamines available and that each one can have drastic effects on the people who consume them.

In 2000 Laos signed a treaty to eradicate opium plantations by 2006. Mr Souban said he was pleased to announce that all 10 provinces and the Saysomboun Special Zone had managed to eradicate opium production ahead of schedule and that Laos was now officially free of opium plantations.

He also said that opium addicts were receiving treatment to rehabilitate them. He announced that the number of addicts had been reduced from 60,000 to 20,000 nationwide.

Finally, Mr Souban said that special efforts were still required by Khammouan residents to ensure that opium cultivation was not restarted and to help prevent the trafficking of other kinds of drugs in the province, particularly amphetamines.

During his speech, Mr Khambai said that amphetamines are dangerous to human beings. He said that they are a likely cause of criminal behaviour, broken families and that they spoil addict’s health.

He also said that the drug problem was a cause of persistent socio-economic disadvantage and that they prevent poverty eradication and economic development from helping to improve the living conditions of people in affected areas.

Therefore, he added, the Lao Government is concerned to fight against drug production trafficking.

In addition, he announced that the Lao Government has established a drug check and control office in each local area.

He added that despite the Government’s best efforts there are still drug traffickers within Laos and also addicts.

The Government is making headway in its fight against drugs, though, as evidenced by the statistics on arrests. This year the Lao Government has been able to arrest 54 drug traffickers in total and has questioned another 84 people accused of involvement with trafficking. 364 drug hauls have also been taken.