Narcotic drugs pose a grave threat not just to the people of the Union of Myanmar but also to the entire mankind. Therefore, the government of the Union of Myanmar is fighting the menace of narcotic drugs as a national duty through various ways and means.

The Union of Myanmar is fighting the danger of narcotic drugs by forming the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control and by developing two strategies and three tactics. The government has been implementing the 15-year plan composed of three 5-year plans since 1999. At the same time, cultivation of opium-substitute crops and development work for border areas and national races are being carried out.

Members of the Tatmadaw took part in phase 1 to 12 of Operation Moe Hein, phase 1 to 8 of Ngayepan Operation, phase 1 to 4 of Operation Taungyanshin and Operation Taunghteikpan, and fought against the danger of narcotic drugs, risking their lives and limbs.

In reality, the danger of narcotic drugs is the evil legacy of colonialists. The Union of Myanmar is staging an all-out fight against it, enlisting its own national forces and cooperating with neighbours and other nations in the region. The danger of narcotic drugs is the problem facing most of the countries in the world and this calls for cooperation among nations.

The preliminary meeting of the Second ASEAN-China Drug Elimination Conference and the Ministerial Meeting on Regional Drug Abuse control cooperation were held in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on 19 May, and it was attended by a Myanmar delegation. At the meeting, cooperative measures on the sub-regional action plan for the region to become a drug-free zone, technical assistance of UNODC, financial assistance of donor nations and cooperation between six MoU-nations were discussed. Myanmar, China and Thailand are working together for higher living standard of national races in the border areas and for regional development.

Myanmar is making great strides in her efforts for cultivation of opium-substitute crops. Poppy cultivation dropped by 34 per cent in 2004 if compared with that in 2003.

The 2005 US Report on Narcotic Drugs showed that production of opium in Myanmar has dropped to 292 tons, deon from 2,560 tons eight years ago, accounting for 88 percent drop.

We are convinced that the government of the Union of Myanmar will go all out to win the battle over the danger of narcotic drugs in cooperation with the entire national people and with her neighbours and other nations in the region.