Cooperation boosts war on drugs along Mekong(2)

So far the campaign has resulted in 560 cases of drug trafficking being uncovered, with 812 suspects arrested, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

Police from the four countries have seized 1,931 kilograms of drugs, including heroin, opium and methamphetamine, commonly known as ice, as well as firearms.

A drug processing plant in Myanmar was also destroyed under the cooperation between Myanmar and China on May 12, which led to the arrest of three suspects and the seizure of 20 kg of ice, according to the Ministry of Public Security. Police from the two countries also confiscated a handgun, and equipment and raw materials to make drugs, it said.

"The campaign is a threat to drug traffickers," said Yu Haibin, a police officer of the department.

"Ensuring safety on the Mekong River is always in the minds of the four countries, and the campaign is a good way to do it," he said. "However, this is just the first step and we need to do a lot more in the future."

JOINT EFFORTS HAVE PRECEDENT

The ongoing anti-drug campaign is not the first time the four countries have cooperated to prevent crime on the Mekong River.

Police forces set up joint patrols after hijackers killed 13 Chinese sailors on two cargo ships in a Thai section of the waterway on Oct 5, 2011.

At Guanlei Port in Yunnan province's Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture on Friday, Chinese officers were scheduled to leave on three vessels to join counterparts from Laos for the 10th patrol mission, due to last three to four days.

Cargo ship owner Tao Youming welcomed the action. He witnessed the massacre in 2011 and said he has had great concerns on the river's safety ever since.

"I have also been robbed while transporting goods," said the suntanned 40-year-old, a sailor for more than two decades. "The armed robbers took my cash and cellphone."

He said many speedboats blocked his way back to China in order to get money, which always made him nervous as he sailed on the river.

"Now such danger is hard to see thanks to the patrols and the anti-drug campaign," Tao said. "It has been a long time since I've seen a robbery while sailing."

Liu Yan, 26, a cook on Tao's boat, said those who intend to get on the ship must have their luggage checked and show their identity certificates.

"It's dangerous to pick up strangers on the river, because sometimes they may carry drugs and rob us," she said. "To avoid that, we seldom agree to take them.

"I was frightened after sailing to Thailand, but now I'm relaxed, because I can often see patrol ships on the river," she added. "My husband also works on the boat, which is another reason I'm never scared about the dangers."