Drug-related cases exposed under drug elimination programmes

Drug-related cases exposed

under drug elimination programmes

Yangon, 29 Nov –

Myanmar is implementing the 15-year plan for eradication of narcotic drugs. In

doing so, from 1 September to 20 November this year, 117.46 acres of poppy

plantations were destroyed in Northern and Eastern Shan State during 2002-2003

poppy cultivation season. Action was taken against 3,020 men and 710 women

totaling 3,730 in 2,529 drug-related cases from January to 15 November this

year. Among the seizures were 1737.1983 kilos of raw opium in 363 cases,

299.6057 kilos of heroin in 892 cases, 261.5759 kilos of marijuana in 209 cases,

9,191,694 stimulant tablets in 482 cases, and 1710.6169 kilos of Ephedrine in 8

cases.

More cases of raw opium and heroin were exposed than previous

year. It was due to cooperation among the national races organizations,

neighboring countries and international organizations. Tatmadaw, Myanmar Police

Force and people are cooperating to expose the drug-related cases with the aim

of eradicating the use and production of narcotic drugs in Myanmar.

Minister inspects opium

substitute crop plantation in Mongma, Mongla

Yangon, 28 Nov –

Vice-Chairman of Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control Minister for Progress

of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt,

together with Director-General of the Progress of Border Areas and National

Races Department Col Than Swe and officials, inspected regional development and

drugs prevention tasks in Mongma and Mongla region on 24 November.

They also inspected plantation of opium substitute crops such

as lychee, mango and orange in Mongma village. Mongla was announced an opium

free zone ever since 1997. Then, the minister and party inspected Mongla

People’s Hospital and donated 2 wheelchairs for the hospital.

The minister and party met with local authorities and staff

and urged them to actively participate in the development works in border areas

and narcotic drugs elimination tasks. Later, the minister and party inspected

Mongla Drug Elimination Museum, retransmission station in Mongla and progress of

opium substitute tea leaf plantation, retransmission station in Silu.

Central Executive Committee Member of the Union Solidarity

and Development Association Col Thein Nyunt met with executives and members of

Monghkat and Mongyan township USDAs at night and gave instructions on four tasks

of the association including management, organizing, economic and social and

cultural matters.

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Measures taken to proclaim Tachilek,

poppy

Yangon, 28 Nov –

The following is the Press release on relentless efforts for elimination of

narcotic drugs being undertaken by the Government of the Union of Myanmar issued

by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.

The Government of Myanmar has been making relentless efforts

to eliminate narcotic drugs as a national task. In its combat to eliminate the

scourge, the government has laid down a 15-year Narcotic Elimination Plan

(1999-2014) which is being implemented with the active participation of the

national races residing in the border areas where opium is grown. The Plan calls

for not only poppy eradication and crop substitution, but also for the

development of the infrastructure of the border areas so that widespread poppy

cultivation could be gradually phased out.

The Plan which is its fourth year of implementation is

already witnessing encouraging results. The successful results of the Plan

includes, inter alia, the firm pledge by Wa national race leaders to totally

eradicate drugs from their land by the year 2005 and by Kokang national race

leaders to rid their region of narcotic drugs by the same year and the

declaration of Mongla region as an Opium Free Zone since 1997. Likewise,

measures have been taken to proclaim three border towns, Tachilek, Myawady and

Kawthoung as “Drug Free Towns” in the near future.

Another area of success has been the dramatic drop in the

sown acreage of poppy cultivation. It has been acknowledged by the UNDCP and

INCB that the poppy cultivation in Myanmar has fallen from over ninety thousand

acres in 1999-2000 to a little over sixty-two thousand acres in 2001-2002.

During the same period, over twenty-five thousand acres of poppy fields were

destroyed. During the poppy cultivation season in 2002-2003 our statistics up to

November 22, show that 149 acres of poppy were clandestinely cultivated in the

Northern and Eastern Shan State. With our determined efforts, we have been able

to destroy all of them.

The annual joint opium yield survey with the United States

have also shown a decline in the opium cultivated area. According to that

survey, between 1998-99 and 2000-2001, the opium cultivated area declined by

38.63%. The INCB Report of 2002 acknowledged that the Government of Myanmar has

been fully committed to the eradication of illicit opium poppy cultivation in

the country. The UNDCP Opium Survey Report 2002, also cultivation the drastic

drop in poppy cultivation acreage and opium production. The UNDCP report

reflects the results of a comprehensive survey throughout the Shan State which

is considered to represent more than 91% of the total opium cultivation in

Myanmar.

The launching of a new initiative called the “Project New

Destiny” in April 2002 has resulted in the voluntary surrender of over 290 tons

of poppy seeds and dried poppy bulbs by the poppy farmers. The surrendered poppy

seeds and bulbs were burnt in the presence of diplomats and press. Had these

seeds been cultivated an equivalent of 55 tons of heroin with an estimated

street value of over US$ 2.2 billion could been produced. The “Project New

Destiny” provided the farmers to grow alternative crops rather than poppy. At

present, 12,000 acres have been substituted with alternative crops. Furthermore,

assistance and support is provided to encourage breeding of livestock with

quality breeds of animals such as cows, pigs, poultry and goats. To demonstrate

seriousness of purpose, four deputy ministers have been asked to oversee and

supervise this initiative.

In the area of law enforcement, the authorities have made

major drug seizures. The 16th destruction of seized narcotic drugs was held at

the Drug Elimination Museum in Yangon on 26 June 2002 to mark the International

Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Altogether 3,028 kilos of opium,

240 kilos of heroin, 434 kilos of marijuana, 34.94 million of stimulant tablets

and 4.05 million of ephedrine and 3,021 kilos of caffeine were publicly burnt.

The seized narcotic drugs from 1990 to 2002 have been

publicly burnt and destroyed in Yangon for sixteen times. They included 26,722

kilos of opium, 3,970 kilos of heroin, 5,852 kilos of marijuana, 115,802,174

stimulant tablets and 14,448 kilos of ephedrine. The street value of narcotic

drugs destroyed was 4,919.061 million US dollars.

From January to 15 November 2002, 1,737 kilos of opium, 300

kilos of heroin and 9,191,694 stimulant tablets were seized.

Realizing that the drug menace is truly a global problem and

that no single country can find an effective solution to that global scourge,

Myanmar has embarked on a cooperative endeavour with its regional neighbours-

People’s Republic of China, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam by signing

the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly address this drugs problem.

Myanmar has signed bilateral agreements on control of narcotic drugs with India,

Bangladesh, Vietnam, Lao PDR, the Philippines, and the Russian Federation.

Myanmar has also signed the Memorandum of Understanding bilaterally with the

People’s Republic of China and Thailand. In addition, Myanmar is a party to the

Mekong sub-regional cooperative effort in a fight against narcotic drugs

comprising China, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Thailand. Myanmar is also participating

in efforts for achievement of Drug Free ASEAN by 2020 within the context of this

Organization. These approaches, both regional and bilateral together with the

15-Year Plan being implemented with our resources are a clear demonstration of

the commitment and seriousness with which Myanmar is trying to tackle the

problem of narcotic drugs.

In the recent development the Government of Myanmar, to show

its serious commitment in combating drug abuse and illicit trafficking, has

decided to accede to the 1972 Protocol amending the Single Convention on

Narcotic Drugs 1961.

All these amply demonstrate Myanmar’s serious efforts to

eliminate the scourge of narcotic drugs. The comments made by the

Secretary-General of the INTERPOL to the Fourth International Heroin Conference

in Yangon in February 1999 that “it is high time the international community

becomes acquainted with the excellent work that is being carried out in Myanmar

against illicit production and trafficking of heroin” are highly pertinent in

this regard.

Myanmar is fully committed to carry out its 15-Year Plan to

totally eliminate narcotic drugs from the land primarily through its own

resources. However, with the understanding, cooperation and assistance from the

international community our endeavours can be greatly facilitated and our goal

realized much sooner. On our part, Myanmar will continue to cooperate fully and

steadfastly with the international community.

223 drug-related cases exposed in

October

Yangon, 28 Nov –

The Tatmadaw, Myanmar Police Force and the Customs Department exposed 223

drug-related cases in October.

Seizures made by them were 95.9637 kilos of opium in 27

cases, 49.2519 kilos of heroin in 74 cases, 0.1673 kilo of opium oil in six

cases, 6.8601 kilos of low-grade opium in 11 cases, 21.3204 kilos of marijuana

in 21 cases, 21.5 litres of Phensidyl  in five cases, 5,381,673 stimulant

tablets in 49 cases, 370.8219 kilos of Ephedrine in one case, 10.173 kilos of

stimulant powder, 13.336 kilos of opium dust in four cases, 81 diacepen tablets

in two cases, 40 kilos of Caffeine, 18.182 litres of chemical liquid, 476.63

kilos of chemical powder in one case, 16 cases for failure to register and six

other cases.

Action was taken against 325 culprits in 223 cases – 268 in

men and 57 in women –  in October.

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