Thailand: March 5, 2005

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While Thailand has persuaded tribes in the north to get out of the opium and heroin business (by growing other crops, like tea, instead of poppies), the tribes do not like losing the large amounts of money they got from the drug business. Today, twenty police tried to arrest six armed men smuggling methamphetamine into the country. Four of the smugglers died, and two escaped. Local tribesmen had arranged  the deal. The police have to be careful in dealing with the tribes, lest it stir up armed resistance. The anti-drug efforts have paid off, and Thailand is no longer considered a major source of illegal drugs.