Myanmar is sandwiched between the two countries which are largest producers of precursor drugs, and it is difficult to gain complete control of border points of entry posing a challenge to drug elimination efforts, said Deputy Home Affairs Minister Major General Aung Thu.
"Geographically, our country is located between the two largest precursor drug producing countries. So the difficulty in controlling border exits is a challenge to our efforts to wipe out narcotic drugs," said the deputy minister.
He made the comment during the High-level Regional Conference on Precursor Control held at M Gallery Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw on Wednesday.
In 2018 (this year), 20,161 kilos of caffeine were seized on Myanmar-Laos border and Myanmar-China border; pseudo ephedrine, pills and 236.5 kilos of powder from opium refineries' and 62,135 liters of sulfuric acid, 166,153 hydrochloric acid, 191,794 liters of ethyl and ether and 54,260 liters of acetone on Myanmar-China border. Moreover, 23,550 kilos of sodium cyanide used as a precursor in producing narcotics were confiscated on Myanmar-Thai border.
From 1991 to 2018, the authorities in cooperation with military units seized 194 opium refineries and 61 machines for making stimulant tablets from faraway border areas with weaknesses in the rule of law.
"It's common knowledge that taking advantage of borders of countries concerned with different laws and political ideologies, unscrupulous people are producing and smuggling narcotic and illicit drugs. Without precursors, there are no narcotic drugs and without users, there are no narcotic drugs. We will be cooperating with regional and international countries in controlling and eliminating narcotics," said the major general.
