An increase in drug trafficking in Southeast Asia's Golden Triangle has prompted police from the three Golden Triangle nations - Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand - along with China to join forces to make the area safe from its infamous drug trade.

Surrounded by the waters of the Mekong River, the Golden Triangle nations have ramped up marine-based patrolling of boats sailing across the porous borders of the three nations.

In the first of three special reports focusing on the Mekong River, Al Jazeera's Wayne Hay goes on patrol with the Thai marine police.