The 87th Mekong River joint patrol led by China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand concluded Friday, as Chinese law enforcement boats and officers returned to the Guanlei Port in southwest China's Yunnan Province.
A total of 128 law enforcement officers from the four countries participated in the mission in six vessels and covered 563 km in four days, according to the Yunnan provincial public security department.
Joint inspections and an anti-drug publicity campaign were launched in key waters such as the Golden Triangle. A seminar and a multilateral information exchange meeting on law enforcement cooperation were held in Myanmar and Laos respectively.
Ten joint patrols have been completed since the beginning of this year, featuring 73 law enforcement boats and 1,706 law enforcement officers, with more than 10 meetings, joint investigations and joint drills held, safeguarding the security and stability of the Mekong River basin.
The joint patrols started in December 2011 after a gang hijacked two cargo ships and killed 13 Chinese sailors in Thai waters on Oct. 5 that year.
The Mekong River, known as the Lancang River in China, is a vital waterway for cross-border shipping among China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.
