Government to crack down on opium fields in north

The so-called Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Laos and China meet has always been synonymous with the drug trade, specifically the opium trade. The mountainous and isolated terrain has allowed the illegal growth of poppies to flourish for years. These days, tourists cruise the golden triangle like a theme park, but its days as a drug den have ostensibly come to an end, or have they?

Government authorities have stated that recently, a growing number of farmers have been found growing poppies in the northern provinces of Thailand. Certain districts of Chiang Mai, Chiang Dao and Mae Chaem are the biggest growers, producing over 1,000 rai worth of poppies.

Police have set aside 2.28 million baht to address the problem, and plan to eradicate the fields throughout 9 districts of Koi, Chiang Dao, Chaiprakarn, Fang, Phrao, Mae Chaem, Mae Ai and Mae Taeng. The authorities have been working to be compliant with guidelines set out by the United Nations to deal with such a problem and it is hoped all plantations can be wiped out within a year.