KUNMING, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The 75th joint patrol on the Mekong River, involving law enforcers from China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, was completed Friday.
Eight vessels and 198 law enforcement personnel participated in the four-day patrol between China's Guanlei port and waters near the Golden Triangle.
The regular patrol targets drug trafficking along the Mekong River and conducts random inspections of ships in waters near key regions, including the Golden Triangle.
During the joint mission, the law enforcement personnel inspected 4 vessels, 21 vehicles, 69 personnel and 735.7 tonnes of cargo.
"The patrols have greatly improved the awareness of residents and promoted trade activities along the river," said Kochapol Kansub, the commander from Thailand.
Joint patrols started in December 2011 to tackle safety concerns after a gang hijacked two cargo ships and killed 13 Chinese sailors in Thai waters on Oct. 5, 2011.
The Mekong River, known as the Lancang River at the Chinese stretch, runs through China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, and is an important waterway for transnational shipping.
