Drug syndicates here supply Eramin 5, ketamine and cocaine to syndicates across the border in return for ganja, opium, heroin, morphine and WY pills.

Federal Narcotics Department director Najib Abdul Aziz said police were working closely with their Thai counterparts to crack down on the syndicates.

"They have been operating for several years and they continue to reappear even after we have closed several of them down," he said.

He said the number of syndicates was large and police were working on several leads.

"They exchange drugs depending on demands in their respective markets. We will track down these syndicates and eradicate them," Najib said after opening the third Royal Malaysian Police-Royal Thai Police Joint Narcotics Course 2006 at the police training college in Cheras here on Tuesday.

Earlier, in his address to participants, Najib said the course was designed to strengthen ties between the police forces of the two countries.

He said it was important for the two sides to get to know each other and to learn about each other's law and procedures.

Najib told participants they had to reinforce each other's ability to combat transnational drug trafficking syndicates.

He said that there was no other way except the time-tested way of sharing timely intelligence and information.

"Traffickers do not heed even the death penalty because of the huge profits the drug trade generates," Najib said.

The Star

Asia News Network

Kuala Lumpur