Foreign Minister Surapong Tohvichakchaikul said local residents told the ministry's Buakaew mobile team during a recent visit to the province recently that they were in need of more passes on the Thai-Myanmar border, as these would boost cross border trade and communications.

Local authorities in Chiang Rai wanted the passes to be opened at Pangtong in Fang district and Santondu in Mae Ai district.

He added that while local residents had said that border trades would increase if the passes were opened, the army argued that they would facilitate the smuggling of drugs in and out the country.

The ministry was told that Pangtong pass has been closed on and off for more than 10 years but drug problems in the area continued to increase. Putting the blame on the pass was thus not right.

The ministry will discuss the army about the possibility of open more Thai-Lao border passes on Saturday.