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THE NATION: Drug suspect on way to
- Subject: THE NATION: Drug suspect on way to
- From: bll@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 01 Jun 1998 18:42:00
Politics
Drug suspect on way to US
THAILAND plans to extradite a member of the notorious
Burmese drug warlord Khun Sa's gang to the United
States following the Appeals Court's decision Monday to
uphold an earlier verdict by a lower court.
The Appeals Court ruled in favour of extraditing Chukiat
Nimitphakphum, 71, also known as Na Chaikhui, for
trafficking 1,000 to 2,000 kilogrammes of heroin to the US
between 1987 to 1989.
The US authorities sent an official request to the Thai
government on Jan 10, 1995, asking that Chukiat be
allowed to stand trial in Pennsylvania State for smuggling
heroin, worth an estimated US$4 billion.
The US prosecution has filed a case with the Pennsylvania
Court alleging that Chukiat and some other accomplices
trafficked heroin into the country through Mexico.
Thai police arrested Chukiat on Nov 27, 1995, in his home
town of Mae Sai in Chiang Rai province. However, the
accused has vehemently denied the US charges claiming
he has never been to America or Mexico.
Chukiat also denied being a chemist and an expert in
heroin processing.
Pol Gen Phiphop Biewkhaimuk testified in court against
Chukiat saying he is an expert chemist who processed
and distributed heroin in foreign countries. The police
officer said he knew the man because he had arrested
him once at the end of 1989 for possession of opium but
the accused had escaped after being granted bail.
Phiphop said besides the sale of drugs, Chukiat also
dealt in war weapons and manufacturing of heroin for
Khun Sa's army in Burma's Shan State.
The Nation