ROI ET TO BECOME A DRUG-FREE PROVINCE BY SEPTEMBER: THAI PM SRETTHA

BANGKOK, July 2 (Bernama) -- Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin aims to make Roi Et, a province located in the central Northeastern of the Kingdom, a drug-free zone, by the end of September.

Srettha said drug problem is one of the government's urgent and crucial policies, and he has held several meetings with the relevant agencies and has issued multiple directives.

He said the governor will be in charge of the project, which is in line with the government’s urgent policy to suppress drugs.

"In the past week, several ministers and I had travelled to the northern and northeastern provinces. We will be using the Roi Et province as a model for addressing the problem of drugs and we aim to turn it into a drug-free province by the end of September," Srettha told reporters after chairing a mobile Cabinet meeting in Nakhon Ratchasima, near here, Tuesday.

He said the governor needs to work jointly with other government agencies to carry out massive “X-ray” operations to check for possible drug addicts and pushers in the Northeast.

"Those caught abusing drugs will be sent to rehabilitation centres, while traffickers will be arrested and brought to justice.” 

Srettha said the government believes many drug addicts will be arrested in the crackdowns and the interior, public health and defence ministries will work together to build rehab facilities in Roi Et.

He urged the Office of the Narcotics Control Board to set a target and take appropriate measures to tackle the drug problem.

The provincial governors and police commanders should work closely together to achieve these goals, he added.

Meanwhile, Srettha announced that the Cabinet has approved 7.6 billion baht for areas in the Northeast, which are facing floods and droughts.

"The Office of National Water Resources and Royal Irrigation Department is urged to expedite projects based on their urgency.” 

He requested the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation to cooperate with the Royal Irrigation Department to prepare contingency plans and strategies to mitigate the impact of floods and droughts.

It was reported by the Thai media that more than 740 households, 1,468 people and flights were affected by the floods on Monday after non-stop rain since last Saturday.

-- BERNAMA