burma/thailand drug bust :voa repor

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Subject: burma/thailand drug bust :voa report

DATE=5/17/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-214417
TITLE=BURMA / THAILAND DRUG BUST (L ONLY)
BYLINE=MATTHEW CHANCE 
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  OFFICIALS IN THAILAND SAY THE MILITARY AUTHORITIES IN 
BURMA HAVE GIVEN THEM CUSTODY OF AN ALLEGED DRUG TRAFICKER WANTED
IN THE UNITED STATES.  POLICE SAY LI YUN CHUNG WAS FLOWN INTO 
BANGKOK UNDER TIGHT SECURITY ON SATURDAY.  IT IS  NOT  YET KNOWN 
IF THERE ARE ANY PLANS TO EXTRADITE MR. LI TO THE UNITED STATES. 
MATTHEW CHANCE REPORTS FROM BANGKOK.

TEXT:  LI YUN CHUNG IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST WANTED MEN.  HE 
HAS BEEN INDICTED BY COURTS IN THE UNITED STATES IN CONNECTION 
WITH AMERICA'S LARGEST HAUL OF SMUGGLED DRUGS -- THE SEIZURE IN 
1991 OF MORE THAN 120 MILLION DOLLARS OF HEROIN.

MR. LI IS BELIEVED TO HAVE CLOSE TIES WITH THE BURMESE DRUG 
WARLORD, KHUN SA -- THE MAN WHO ONCE CONTROLLED MORE THAN 60 
PERCENT OF THE WORLD'S HEROIN PRODUCTION.

KUN SA, WHO IS NOW THOUGHT TO BE LIVING IN RANGOON, SURRENDERED 
TO THE BURMESE AUTHORITIES LAST YEAR.  LI YUN CHUNG WAS ARRESTED 
IN THAILAND SHORTLY AFTERWARDS.  BUT HIS STAY IN BANGKOK WAS TO 
BE SHORT LIVED.  AMID WIDESPREAD CRITICISM -- PARTICULARLY FROM 
THE UNITED STATES -- THAI COURTS GRANTED MR. LI BAIL.  AND BY 
MARCH, THE ALLEGED DRUG TRAFFICKER HAD FLED ACROSS THE BORDER TO 
BURMA, PROFOUNDLY EMBARRASSING THE THAI GOVERNMENT.

THE DECISION BY THE BURMESE MILITARY AUTHORITIES TO RETURN MR. LI
COMES AS THE THAI PRIME MINISTER BEGINS AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO 
RANGOON.  OBSERVERS SAY BURMA IS COUNTING ON THAI SUPPORT FOR ITS
APPLICATION TO JOIN THE POWERFUL ECONOMIC BLOC ASEAN -- THE 
ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIA NATIONS.

IN A STATEMENT, BURMA'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT SAYS THE EXTRADITION 
OF MR. LI TO THAILAND IS AIMED AT BOOSTING THE REGION'S FIGHT 
AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING.  THE STATEMENTS SAY BURMA -- WHICH U-S 
DRUG OFFICIALS ACCUSE OF ALLOWING THE DRUG TRADE -- WANTED TO 
ERADICATE ILLEGAL NARCOTICS. (SIGNED)

NEB/MC/CF