Drug traded for stolen cars

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Drug traded for stolen cars
(Cheewin Sattha, Mae Hong Son)

Bangkok Post
April 16, 1998

Amphetamines are being traded for stolen vehicles instead of cash along the
border with Burma.

Pick-up trucks and four-wheel drive cars are among the favourites worth
between 600,000-800,000 baht apiece, according to officials.

Topping the order lists are Toyota four-wheel drive cars known in Burma as
'Toyota Four Wheel'.

Such vehicles are in high demand because they work well on poor roads in
Burma and spare parts can be easily found in Thailand.

Some car thieves also accept speed pills instead of cash and sell the drugs
in the local market, officials said.

According to officials, car smuggling has increased ahead of a regulation
to come into force this year requiring that all vehicles to be registered
must be imported from China.

Most stolen cars are smuggled via several passes including Ban Sao Hin in
Mae Sariang, the officials added.