Thai and Burmese authorities have agreed to cooperate in the suppression and prevention of illegal drug trafficking and to work to solve trade issues, following a meeting of the Township Border Committee in Mae Sot in northern Thailand’s Tak Province.

The 27th round of the meeting between the two groups discussed a range of border issues, including border security, trade and drug trafficking.

Col Padung Yingpaiboonsuk of the 17th Regiment Infantry Task Force, who is also chairman of the TBC (Thailand) attended the meeting with his Burmese counterpart TBC chairman Lt-Col Win Ko Ko.

Col Padung Yingpaiboonsuk said Thailand and Burma agreed to establish “a cooperation center” for drug prevention and suppression, which would focus o­n tracking the movements of suspected drug traffickers, according to a report by Thailand’s National News Bureau.

He said Burmese authorities urged Thai authorities to coordinate movements directed at a small island in the middle of the Moei River near the Friendship Bridge at Myawaddy, Burma, and Mae Sot, Thailand. The island is ambiguously located between the two countries’ boundaries. Thai authorities claim illegal drug activities operate from the island.

Burma asked Thai officials to coordinate actions directed at the island through the Burmese border committee in advance.

Mae Sot-based Burmese activist Ko Chin said bilateral trade in the area was also discussed, especially the Burmese authorities’ ban on some Thai export products.

“Thai authorities were keen to solve problems about trade because the Burmese side bans Thai exports, such as rice, monosodium glutamate and other commodity goods,” Ko Chin said.

Burma bans such exports at the official trade gate, said Ko Chin, but businessmen on both sides use other entry routes controlled by ethnic armed groups such as the Karen National Union and the pro-Rangoon Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) to move the banned products.

“Thai goods always cross via the KNU and DKBA controlled areas,” he said. “Inside Karen State, they are transported with the DKBA’s help.”

Mae Sot-based Thai STV reported that the two sides will hold a 10-year anniversary ceremony at the Myawaddy-Mae Sot Friendship Bridge next month.