Bangkok Post: Wa linked to drug

[suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

June 5, 1998


                                     


              Wa linked to
              drugs cache 

              Villagers escape as police launch raid 

              Chiang Mai

              A Border Patrol Police unit uncovered a cache of more than 12
              million baht and 5,000 amphetamine pills in a Mae Ai district
              village on Wednesday.

              The police surrounded Hua Nam, a Lisor hilltribe village on the
              Thai-Burmese border, after they were tipped off that it was a
              point where traffickers delivered amphetamine pills to Thai
              agents.

              All males in the village including their chief, Lao-dam Saenlee,
              53, fled into Burma as soon as they spotted the police.

              They were believed to have sought refuge with the United Wa
              State Army led by Wei Hsueh-kang, who reportedly has some
              5,000 armed men under his control.

              Wei is one of four drug traffickers for which the American
              government has set a $2 million reward for information leading to
              their capture.

              The police found 5,000 amphetamine pills, 12 million baht worth
              of cash in 500- and 1,000-baht banknotes, a list of customers,
              and three bank accounts showing a combined deposit of three
              million baht hidden in two huts in the village.

              Thai officials believe the UWSA is operating a heroin and
              amphetamines factory supplying drug traders in Thailand. It is
              believed about one million pills are smuggled into Thailand via
              this route monthly.

              The officials said drug traders hid their cash in the village instead
              of depositing it in banks for fear of confiscation by Thai
              authorities.

              The BPP was seeking permission to issue a warrant for the
              arrest of Lao-dam, who reportedly had close ties with former
              drug kingpin Khun Sa.

              Lao-dam was believed to be a key man behind drug trading in
              the area.




                                     




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Last Modified: Fri, Jun 5, 1998