BANGKOK, Oct 31 (TNA) – The justice minister has intensified control on the export of sodium cyanide in a bid to stop the supply of a precursor for the production of illicit drugs, especially speed pills.
Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin said the order was laid down by a meeting on the control of sodium cyanide to tackle narcotic problems. He chaired the meeting.
The export of sodium cyanide would be delayed pending measures to control the substance and simultaneously relevant officials would seriously supervise the local use of the substance as for the time being the country demanded about 310 tons of sodium cyanide, Mr Somsak said.
The meeting assigned the Office of the Narcotics Control Board to quickly conclude details for the suspension of sodium cyanide export for cabinet consideration. Officials concerned were joining forces to control narcotic precursors to prevent tragedies, the justice minister said.
Lately the country imported about 1,150 tons of sodium cyanide and exported as much as 810 tons of the imported substance to Myanmar. Thailand used only 310 tons at metal coating factories, Mr Somsak said.
The 810 tons of exported sodium cyanide were enough for the production of 16.06 billion speed pills, he said. (TNA)
