Justice Ministry to compile data of drug dealers

At a workshop organised by the Justice Ministry, Charnchai said the idea was to stem the longstanding problem of convicted drug dealers continuing to run their operations from prisons.

Charnchai encouraged inmates with knowledge about inprison drug dealing to volunteer the information, saying inside tips from inmates were more accurate and crucial to effectively tackling the problem.

Corrections Department directorgeneral Natthee Jitsawang said there were around 20,000 inmates serving longterm sentences for drug dealing. They were still running their drug rackets using their associates outside.

More than 10 drug rackets had been busted since the department stepped up its campaign to tackle the problem late last year, he said.

There were about 160,000 convicts in more than 265 correctional facilities in Thailand.//dpa