114th Mekong River joint patrol begins

A Chinese law enforcement vessel leaves the waters of Muang Mo of Laos upon completion of its mission, on Nov. 21, 2019. (Xinhua/Wu Han)

Law-enforcement authorities from China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand joined forces on Feb. 22 for the 114th Mekong River joint patrol.

The Chinese vessels departed at 9 a.m. Tuesday from Jingha Port in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, said the press office of Yunnan provincial public security department.

Five vessels from the four countries will navigate over 600 km in four days and three nights during the latest joint operation.

Law-enforcement departments from the countries cracked 8,325 cases of various types in 2021 while arresting 8,043 criminal suspects and seizing 34.4 tonnes of drugs in the border areas along the Mekong River.

The Mekong River, or the Lancang River in China, is a vital waterway for cross-border shipping.