Thailand - tracking the traffickers

The de-tox treatment in the boot-camps is harsh

Olenka Frenkiel Reporting from Thailand

Olenka Frenkiel goes on patrol with Thailand's army as they attempt to put a stop to the drug traffickers and their evil trade in "yaa baa" or crazy medicine.

Long distance lorry drivers take it to stay awake.

Clubbers take it as cheap replacement for the dance drug ecstasy.

Farmers have even used it to pay seasonal workers.

But the Thais are paying a terrible price for their growing addiction to methamphetamine known locally as "yaa baa" or crazy medicine.

Five years ago just a trickle of this synthetic form of speed was reaching Thailand from jungle laboratories in neighbouring Burma.

Now the country has nearly 1m addicts. Prisons are full to bursting and Thais are panicking that violent crime has skyrocketed.

The army believes that tackling the epidemic is a matter of urgent national security.

Olenka Frenkiel visits army boot camps for convicted addicts and discovers that hundreds of Buddhist monks have been enlisted to fight this growing menace.

Crossing Continents: Thailand - tracking the traffickers
Thursday 28 November 2002 on BBC Radio 4 at 1100 GMT
The programme is repeated Monday 2 December 2002 on BBC Radio 4 at 2030 GMT

Correspondent: Olenka Frenkiel
Producer: Lucy Ash
Editor: Maria Balinska
Online Producer: Andrew Jeffrey