KUNMING, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The 161st joint Mekong River patrol by China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand concluded on Friday, as three participating Chinese law-enforcement vessels safely berthed at the Jingha port in southwest China's Yunnan Province.
The mission, launched simultaneously on Monday from multiple locations in China, Laos and Myanmar, involved 120 personnel and six patrol vessels from the four countries.
Over the course of five days and four nights, the joint fleet conducted a full river patrol and carried out targeted segment cruises in key and sensitive stretches of the waterway, covering a total distance of over 700 kilometers.
During the mission, the joint patrol teams performed coordinated inspections on both water and land in crucial sections of the Mekong River, continuing their crackdown on various cross-border criminal activities. The mission inspected 12 vessels, 71 people and over 1,000 tonnes of cargo. Meanwhile, they also focused on raising the awareness of riverside communities and passengers about drug prohibition and anti-fraud measures.
The Mekong River -- known as the Lancang River in China -- is a vital waterway for cross-border shipping. China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand have been conducting joint patrols of the river since December 2011. ■
