KUNMING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The 94th Mekong River joint patrol, involving law-enforcement authorities from China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, started Tuesday, the latest in a series of patrols basically on a monthly basis by the four nations.
Three Chinese vessels departed from Jingha Port, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, in southwest China's Yunnan Province, while a Laotian vessel departed from the Ban Mom Port in Laos, with the patrol due to last several days.
Before the operation, law-enforcement authorities of the four countries held a video conference to review the progress made by the joint patrol since 2011 when it was initiated to tackle safety concerns along the Mekong.
They also analyzed the current situation regarding drug-related crimes in the region, and conducted in-depth discussions on a range of topics, including combating cross-border crimes and strengthening law-enforcement cooperation.
During the operation, the joint patrol team will crack down on all types of illegal and criminal activities and make every effort to ensure the safety and stability of shipping lanes.
So far, the four countries have jointly busted seven drug-related cases and seized a total of 4,585.39 kg of drugs, capturing nine suspects, according to the Yunnan provincial public security department.
The Mekong River, known as the Lancang River in China, is a vital waterway for cross-border shipping. Enditem
