950825

Asians agrees

on 3-year

action plan

against drugs

BANGKOK: The seven members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have agreed on concerted action in their battle against the spread of drug abuse, Thailand's leading drug fighter said on Friday.

General Chavalit Yodmanee, chief of Thailand's Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), said ASEAN members had agreed to cooperate on four broad fronts in the war on drugs.

Chavailt, speaking at the end of a weeklong meeting of drug suppression officials from the ASEAN members, said they have agreed on a three-year action plan covering prevention, treatment, law enforcement and general research into the drug scourge.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Malaysia has agreed to take the lead in training staff in the field of prevention and community education about the dangers of drugs while Brunei will train personnel in the field of mutual legal assistance, Chavalit said.

Brunei will also focus on training staff in investigating the financial aspects of the drugs trade while Thailand will promote ASEAN-wide cooperation in intelligence gathering, he said.

Despite harsh anti-drug laws in several ASEAN countries drug abuse is widespread in the region.-Reuter