VIENTIANE, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Lao government is preparing to fulfill the mandate of the National Agenda on resolving the country's burgeoning drug problem, and will continue its campaign to rein in the drug trade in 2024 and 2025.

According to the Lao Security News on Monday, the issue was tabled for discussion at Laos' Ministry of Public Security on Wednesday.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security Vilay Lakhamfong, who chaired the meeting, said the drug problem had spread from urban to rural areas and was the cause of numerous social problems and crimes.

During the first phase of the National Agenda from July 2021 to May 2022, a total of 4,094 drug-related cases were processed and 5,818 people were arrested, according to the report.

The Ministry of Public Security teamed up with other government agencies to locate and clear 569 hectares of opium poppies and 4.2 hectares of cannabis plants, and instructed 12,859 families to end the cultivation of these crops.

Security forces also teamed up with other government sectors to seize 169 tons of chemicals used in the production of drugs in northern Laos' Bokeo, Luang Namtha and Luang Prabang provinces, said the report. Enditem

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