68th CLMT joint patrol starts on Mekong River

A taskforce formed by eight law enforcement ships from China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand (CLMT) set sail Tuesday from Guanlei Port in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan province, for the 68th joint patrols and law enforcement mission along the Mekong River.

The taskforce will conduct patrols and law enforcement actions by cruising along the section of the Mekong River between China's Guanlei Port and the waters near the Golden Triangle area. Covering more than 500 kilometers, the GT area makes a tri-junction among Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. 

During the 68th mission, law enforcement personnel from the four countries will carry out joint checking and seizing, and investigation of public security situations in key waters including waters near the Golden Triangle area.

In October 2011, the four countries agreed in Beijing to set up a law enforcement cooperation mechanism, under which they conduct joint patrols to combat cross-border crimes along the river.

The decision was taken after 13 Chinese sailors were killed by a drug trafficking ring in the Golden Triangle area of the river.

The joint action aims at combating cross-border illegal and criminal activities involving terror attacks, smuggling of firearms and humans, and drug trafficking along the Mekong River basin, so as to maintain international shipping safety on the Mekong River.

The law enforcement departments of the four countries will also carry out public security information exchange on the Mekong River in Chiang Saen of Thailand.

Editor: Wang Shixue