The International Narcotics Control College (INCC), a newly based establishment in Chiang Rai, Thailand, is about to offer specialised training for legislation enforcement agents and associated organisations, with the mission of curbing drug trafficking within the Mekong subregion. Nestled inside the compound of the Hall of Opium, Thailand’s opium museum, in Chiang Saen district, the INCC is the primary of its type within the Mekong area.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Thailand’s Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) jointly launched the school. Jeremy Douglas, the UNODC Regional Representative for Southeast Asia and Pacific, views the college as a useful alternative for the ONCB and its companions to ship innovative programmes addressing drug trafficking.
“ On demand are looking at providing courses on the INCC in drug intelligence and analysis, border management, precursor chemical control, as nicely as drug coverage and demand discount.”
The INCC will complement the prevailing Safe Mekong Coordination Center (SMCC) of the ONCB in Chiang Saen, which continues to observe drug trafficking in the Golden Triangle and Mekong subregion countries. The Golden Triangle, incorporating Myanmar, Laos and Thailand, is a significant opium-producing space in Southeast Asia. Douglas emphasised that UNODC will support SMCC duties, corresponding to drug analysis, and supply new intelligence software and training.
The ONCB’s secretary-general, Wichai Chaimongkhon, mentioned the INCC got here into being after the Mae Fah Luang Foundation, which manages the Hall of Opium, donated some land on the museum to the ONCB. The concept of a global anti-drugs institution for the subregion was conceived, leading to the creation of the INCC.
The curriculum will mainly give attention to teaching investigation, prevention and suppression concepts in drug trafficking. The faculty, located in a forest close to the Mekong River, may even act as a research centre in the area. The location is designed to provide hands-on experiences in combatting drug trafficking on land and water.
The INCC is financed by the ONCB’s Drug Prevention and Suppression Fund, which features a portion of cash confiscated by the court docket from drug traffickers. The centre additionally receives sponsorship from the UNODC, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Saudi Arabia.
Wichai sees the present launch as simply the first stage of growth, with some amenities, corresponding to a seminar room, the capturing gallery and the drug research centre, but to be completed. The centre is expected to be absolutely operational by the next 12 months, reported Bangkok Post.
“We hope this coaching centre will strengthen crime-solving capacities within the Mekong subregion, especially on this period when drug crimes have gotten extremely digitised and complicated,” Wichai stated. “We need to extend our capability to make sure we will address drug crimes within the area.”
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