Law enforcement officers from China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand joined forces Tuesday for the 106th Mekong River joint patrol.

Officers from the four countries plan to navigate over 600 kilometers of the river over four days and three nights to strengthen patrols of pivotal waters and clamp down on drug trafficking and other cross-border crime in the region.

A joint anti-drug publicity campaign was also launched Tuesday, ahead of this year's International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which falls on June 26.

Given the Mekong's rising water level, the patrol team will step up information exchanges with merchant ships and civilian vessels to ensure navigational safety.

The river, known as the Lancang River in China, is a vital waterway for cross-border shipping.

China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand have been carrying out joint patrols on the river since December 2011.