Following Thailand’s official declaration of war on drugs, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has called for action against the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and its alleged drug syndicate connections in Myanmar’s Shan State. Speaking at Thailand’s Office of Narcotics Control Board, where he was invited to share his perspectives on drug suppression measures, Thaksin emphasized the urgent need to address the growing drug crisis affecting Thailand.
Thaksin revealed that most drug producers now operate under the UWSA’s influence, with former Thailand-based drug traffickers having shifted their operations to collaborate with the Wa forces, leaving only a small presence in Thailand. He suggested leveraging existing diplomatic relationships with neighboring country leaders to tackle the severe drug problem impacting Thailand. The former prime minister stressed that if Myanmar fails to address the drug issue, Thailand would be forced to take unilateral action.
Thaksin urged authorities to intensify regional drug inspection operations to eliminate threats emerging from trafficking routes along the Mekong River. He criticized corrupt customs officials for failing to prevent the smuggling of chemical precursors used in methamphetamine production, noting that these materials are flowing into UWSA-controlled areas in Shan State. The former prime minister also highlighted his existing relationships with various regional leaders, including Myanmar’s military leadership, suggesting these connections could be utilized in addressing the drug crisis, while firmly stating that Thailand would act independently if necessary to combat drug criminals who he described as enemies of the state.
