KUNMING, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- The 73rd joint patrol on the Mekong River by law enforcement from China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand began on Tuesday.

Four Chinese vessels participated in the mission, which is aimed at reducing crime in the region.

The patrols are targeting drug trafficking along the Mekong River and will conduct random inspections of ships in waters near key regions, including the Golden Triangle.

The joint patrols started in December 2011 after a gang hijacked two cargo ships and killed 13 Chinese sailors in Thai waters on Oct. 5, 2011.

The Mekong River, known as the Lancang River in China, runs through China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, and is an important waterway for transnational shipping.