A Thai military official warned of a possible increase in drug trafficking in Thailand’s Surin province and Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province when the O’Smach-Chong Chom border checkpoint is upgraded to an international crossing in August, a Thai newspaper reported.
Second Army commander Lieutenant General Jirasak Prommopakorn said the 2nd Army would work with Cambodian authorities to halt drug and stolen vehicle smuggling, the Bangkok Post reported Saturday.
Earlier this month at a meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodian and Thai officials agreed to upgrade the border checkpoint. The O’Smach checkpoint is currently open only to Thais and Cambodians on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays and is often used by Thai gamblers who go to two O’Smach casinos.
O’Smach officials said in April that they are also worried about increases in the local drug trade.
Smuggling and amphetamine use has become more of a concern since the beginning of the year, the officials said.