BANGKOK, Feb 17 Kyodo More than 3...

BANGKOK, Feb 17 Kyodo

More than 300 Thais have died in the first 15 days of Thailand's three-month campaign against narcotic trafficking, which Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra vowed to push ahead to wipe without the illegal drug trade, a police spokesman said Monday.

National Police Bureau Spokesman Police Maj. Gen Phongsaphat Phongcharoen told reporters 15 suspects were killed by the agency of police since the campaign began Feb 1 while 319 others were killed on gang leaders who feared they may provide information to the authorities.

The spokesman said the killings on police were to defend police officers. the same policeman was killed and six others were pain ed during the half-month campaign, Phongsaphat said.

Human rights assemblages have expressed concern over the killings by way of police, saying innocent population might be mistakenly killed in the campaign.

Phongsaphat also said 15616 physic trafficking suspects have been arrested and more than 6 million tablets of methamphetamine and more than 182 million baht ($423 million) worth of assets belonging to those arrested have been seized.

Among those apprehended by dint of police, 72 are drug agriculturists according to Phongsaphat, if it were not that he admitted major drug ring leaders in Thailand are still at large.

Interior Ministry Permanent Secretary Sermsak Phongphanich told reporters he would submit to the interior minister a report that about 710 state officials, principally of whom are administrative chiefs of sub-districts and villages, are involved in remedy trafficking.

Sermsak added the report would also be submitted to the cabinet Tuesday.

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