Chiang Mai (Mizzima) - Members of a large drug network were arrested in Thailand, after the Thai government vowed to check the drug menace in its northern region within six months.
Last Friday, the Thai Minister of Justice, Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, and related authorities held a press conference in Bangkok regarding the arrest of three Thai men suspected of being major drug traffickers who are linked to the late notorious drug kingpin Khun Sa. The arrest followed a tip off from the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) Deputy Secretary General Police Colonel Dusadee Arayawut identified the suspects as Peerayuth Phetsakol, Charn-narong Muser also known as Kasemthat, and Vicharn Suthiphan.
The officials also seized nearly Bt 120 million (3.4 million US$) worth of assets and two rifles from their possession last Thursday.
According to a statement from the Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation, the office was urged by DEA, Thailand office to investigate a drug and money laundering network.
“The group has a drug production factory in Burma near Thailand’s border, where it produces heroin and methamphetamine. The factory is guarded by UWSA. The drugs were smuggled in for sale in Thailand, China, Lao, Cambodia Vietnam and later sent to Philippines, Canada and USA. The group is related to the late Khun Sa,” the statement added.
Suthiphan and Muser are related to the late Khun Sa, the statement said. Their fathers were arrested for narcotics trafficking 19 years ago and are now serving suspended jail terms.
Khun Sa, or Chang Chi-fu "Opium King," surrendered to the authorities in Burma in 1996 and died in Rangoon in 2007.
Phetsakol, arrested from a house in Chiang Rai, confessed that he has been involved in selling drugs since 2007 and that he had sold more than 750 kilogrammes. Muser and Suthipan were arrested in Chiang Mai and Bangkok respectively. Thai officials are investigating other members of the network.
Andrew Kellum, Assistant Regional Director of the DEA’s Bangkok office, said some members of the network had a history of drug offences in the US, having been arrested and later released. They returned to the business with family members till their arrest by DSI officials, according to a report in a Thai News Agency on Saturday.
Chartchai Sutthiklom, Advisor to the Office of Narcotic Control Board of Thailand said that the government would step up surveillance in the border area in the north and along the main road to stop drug smuggling into the inner areas of the country.
