|
Check your Burmese wall hangings
They may be worth millions in illegal drugs
Nopniwat Krailerg and Preeyanoot Jittawong
Drug dealers smuggling heroin and speed pills from
Myanmar were recently arrested with a haul of seven kilograms of drugs. The
raw value was 2.8 million baht but sources said that this would bring 28
million baht on the street.
Maj. Gen. Pairat Thongjaktu, commissioner of Pha Muang
Task Force, said that in the early morning of July 25, patrolling soldiers
near the second bridge at Baan Tha Kalam saw two men carrying a large sack.
On requesting a search, the two ran back to the Burmese side, abandoning
their bundle.
Officers opened it and found 10 Burmese style wall
hangings sewn with elephant pictures in relief, with 14 plastic bags of
heroin used as the stuffing in each hanging, coming to 7,000 grams of
heroin.
Prior to this arrest, soldiers had found 21,000 ya ba
pills and 20 Ecstasy pills being transported the same way by two Burmese men
on July 21 and, on the next day, two others were apprehended on motorbikes
crossing the border with 10,200 WY speed pills hidden in wall hangings.
Three more dealers were discovered on Burmese side of the border after
interrogation of those arrested.
Pithaya Jinawat, director of ONCB Northern region said
heroin smuggling in 2003 and 2004 was increasing but ya ba had been
decreasing while Ice, Cocaine and Ecstasy were increasing as the demand from
Thai youth increased.
Pol. Col. Jaran Roengtham, superintendent of Mae Sai Police Station
disclosed that ya ba was often concealed with cocoa or chocolate to mask the
smell to counter the sniffer dogs. Most heroin found would be exported to
Taiwan where the value was higher, he said.
Part of a huge consignment of illegal timber apprehended
Government officials believed to be involved
Saksit Meesubkwang
Logged timber from Mae Kham Mee Forest Park in Phrae
was found not to have approved Forest Industry Organization of Thailand
(FIO) numbers and stamps.
After receiving a tip-off regarding the legality of
the timber, Prasong Uraiworn, head of Phrae Provincial Prevention Office
instructed Wae Orachan, district chief officer of Tambon Nikom in Muang,
Kamphaengphet to make the carrier, Obnithakarn Co unload the timber in a
field in front of Soong Men Police Station for verification.
The source said that the timber on the two trucks was
only a part of the consignment and eight trucks had already delivered
timber to Bangkok. The fact that this large consignment could have gone
the distance without being apprehended leads to suspicion that certain
police and officials may have benefited.
The allegedly illegally logged timber was, apparently,
the subject of a contract between Chanit Laohawatana, director of The
Forest Industry Organization of Thailand (FIO) and Tropical Foresters Pte
of Singapore.
Wae Orachan said that his company had purchased the
timber legally and if illegally logged timber was delivered, it should be
the responsibility of the FIO.. The company had to rent each truck at
4,000 baht per day and, if this timber could not be exported on time they
would lose a lot of money.
Samart Loifa, Phrae deputy governor said that if the
timber was proved to be illegal any person found to be involved would be
prosecuted no matter how senior a government official they were.
Unfortunately, we have heard these promises before.
Longan farmers from Saraphi want more money
Nopniwat Krailerg
Following a glut of more than 27,000 tons of longans in
Saraphi this year, prices are falling. The end result is yet another
petition to higher authorities to magically increase the returns to the
farmers.
200
Longan farmers protest the low price of their product.
On July 20, Wiroj Lapan, president of Tambon chief
officer and village head association together with 200 Saraphi longan
orchard men gathered at Chiang Mai City Hall while Kwanchai Wongnitikorn,
Chiang Mai deputy governor received the petition and listened to the
problem.
Kwanchai said that once again overproduction by the
longan farmers was the root cause of the problem, nevertheless, they would
not be ignored and Chinese merchants had been invited to purchase a certain
amount of dry longans. The Chinese Consul has been asked to support the
purchasing process and if Chinese merchants would accept forty to fifty
thousand tons, this would help the farmers. Several cooperatives would also
purchase fresh longan at the requested prices.
“The cabinet has resolved to provide a budget of 500 million baht to
deal with the longan problem, but farmers should consider modified longan
products,” said the deputy governor.
Northern Region SME Center produces marketing opportunity
Preeyanoot Jittawong
The three day “Smart BOC Fair” (Business Opportunity
Center) was organized by the Northern Small and Medium Enterprises
Development Center and Distribution Promotion Center Chiang Mai and the SME
Administration Networks. It was held at the Lanna Hall Central Airport
Plaza, Chiang Mai. More than 100 SMEs and OTOP manufacturers participated.
Deputy
Governor Thongchai Wongrianthong (centre), Wiranan Niladanuwong (left),
director of the Chiang Mai branch of the Industry Promotion Center Region 1,
and Napong Sa-nguannapaporn (right), manager of the Northern Small and
Medium Enterprises Development Center and Distribution Promotion Center
Chiang Mai open the B.O.C.
The objectives of the event were to provide the
opportunity for SMEs and OTOP manufacturers in the eight Northern provinces
to experience the heady thrills of selling.
The event was well received and was divided into main
areas such as clothing, household goods, ornaments, gems and processed
foodstuffs; advice and recommendations by experts; and consultations and
product plans for manufacturers and interested parties to apply to the
development of their own products and packaging in the future.
Thongchai Wongrianthong, Chiang Mai deputy governor, presided over the
opening of the “Smart B.O.C. Fair 2005” held between July 22–24.
Wiranan Niladanuwong, director of the Chiang Mai branch of the Industry
Promotion Center Region 1 spoke on about the origins of the event and Napong
Sa-nguannapaporn, manager of the Northern Small and Medium Enterprises
Development Center and Distribution Promotion Center Chiang Mai was on hand
to welcome them.
Freight businesses
want government help
Chiangmai
Mail Reporters
Freight companies want the government to understand
that increasing oil prices are hurting them just as much as farmers and
fishermen, who get financial compensation for the fuel oil increases
from the government.
Udom Suwitsakdanon, managing director of Nim See
Seng Co., Ltd. and president of the Forwarders Club Chiang Mai, said
that freight companies are losing nine hundred thousand baht per month.
Even though the rate has been increased by 10 percent, fuel oil prices
have further increased; therefore, consideration is being given to
further increases for the sake of survival.
There are 14 branches of Nim See Seng Company in
Bangkok and different provinces using 600 trucks, and if the government
would help farmers and fishermen, he would like the government to think
about the freight business too, Udom concluded.
Chiang Rai authorities
nervous about mudslides
Deforestation brings its muddy retaliation
Chiangmai Mail Reporter
Concern about mudslides mounts and so a seminar about
geological disaster networks was held in Chiang Rai led by Ruaylap Iamthong,
consultant to the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment.
Somsak Photisat, director general of the Department of
Mineral Resources and Nopporn Tornrap, Chiang Rai deputy governor and
another thousand people joined the seminar on July 16 held at Little Duck
Hotel, Chiang Rai.
One consultant said that Chiang Rai province often
experiences mudslides, mountain torrents and collapsing soil and they were
difficult to prevent — but readiness and participation of its citizens
could reduce losses.
The Director General of the Department of Mineral
Resources said that this seminar was to give information to residents about
natural disasters, especially mudslide warnings that often took place in
north of Chiang Rai such as Mae Chan, Mae Fa Luang and Mae Sai because
ground in these areas degenerates easily. However, the main reason was
deforestation, and when heavy rain occurred, mudslides and collapsing soil
ensued. Having terrified all attendants with the dire possibilities, he
asked residents not to be too frightened but to listen to government
warnings.
People will be informed if 60 millimeters of rain falls
per day and to then be ready for mudslides and to move out from risky areas,
especially if more than 300 millimeters fell per day. Rain gauges have been
distributed in various areas. Some areas such as Mae Suai and Muang will be
surveyed for sink holes as well.
Since September, 2004, it has rained for 17 full days
resulting in 440 millimeters of water in Mae Sai, Mae Fa Luang and Mae Chan
and mudslides occurred in Mae Fa Luang causing two deaths and buried a
school at Tambon Pateung in Mae Chan.
Northern longan farmers saved by the gong
Longan Agriculturist Cooperatives sign
last-minute contract with China
Nopniwat Krailerg
Jaran Supasri, Northern Longan Agriculturist Cooperatives
and Eight Northern Provinces Cooperatives’ representative signed a
contract with Jang Yong Lin representing DKY 2005 Company, China, to
purchase 70,000 tons of dry longan. This will help in solving the longan
oversupply problem in the northern region with a market to take some longan
products.
Jang Yong Lin requested farmers to pay attention to dry
longan quality and not to mix a new crop with old one because it may affect
the product distribution next year.
There are many lessons to be learned, both by governments, local
politicians and farmers. Let us see what happens next year.
Yuam riverside villagers
prepare to flee
Three days continuous rain increases danger of mudslides
Saksit Meesubkwang
Mae Sariang, Mae La Noi and Sop Moei district chief
officers have been told by Supoj Laowansiri, Mae Hong Son governor, to get
ready to move people living along Yuam riverside and nearby creeks as it had
been raining from Friday to Sunday, increasing the mudslide probability.
Mountain torrents would uproot large trees that might harm lives, fields and
houses along the riversides.
Kannikar Puranaphan, director of Northern Metrology
Center stated on July 25 that soft to medium cloud covering the three
districts would cause it to rain continually and that could result in
mudslides in the three areas.
The governor warned residents in the three districts not
to work on farms located near mountains or highlands but to wait until it
was safe. Officers were ready to rescue residents immediately if a disaster
occurred.
Government gifts for new babies
Nopniwat Krailerg
The government is trying to encourage parents and
babysitters to understand children’s learning processes and to realize the
importance of child development. To this end, gifts for new babies are being
given for all newborns in Thailand between July 28, 2005 and July 27, 2006.
This is for all bubs, irrespective of whether they were
born in government or private hospitals or even at health centers or the
rear seat of taxis. The commencement of the generosity coincides with the
birthday of HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn (July 28).
The government’s goodies includes a blanket, manual of
taking care of a baby up to two years old for mothers or babysitters, a
music CD or cassette tape to encourage brain development and toys to
encourage touching, listening and seeing and a fairytale.
Chiang Mai wants
a more attractive face
Flowers up and hoardings down is the answer
Nopniwat Krailerg and
Saksit Meesubkwang
Governor Suwat Tantipat and Mayor Boonlert Buranupakorn
have combined to improve Chiang Mai’s image, expecting this to stimulate
tourism. The governor said that an international magazine had just listed
Chiang Mai as the fourth most important tourist venue while Bali, Indonesia
had won the top preference.
Governor
Suwat Tantipat and Mayor Boonlert Buranupakorn proclaim tidiness for all.
Both the governor and the mayor said that local police
officers should cooperate with Chiang Mai residents to develop the province
to be more interesting, clean and neat, particularly as several important
activities will be organized in Chiang Mai next year. Rules in the city
concerning footpaths, streets and households must be followed, requiring
participation from residents.
Governor
Suwat Tantipat, Mayor Boonlert Buranupakorn and Pornchai Jitnavasathien at
the press conference on developing Chiang Mai’s image.
“Implementing rules in Chiang Mai will satisfy both
residents and travelers and will bring income and more work to other
provincial districts and tambons. We should support our province to make it
more attractive as one of world’s most important tourist venues,” Suwat
said.
He added that since there would be more tourists during
the high season in November, the five underpass points should be finished in
October and decorated with flowers for a good impression to support both the
high season and several big projects in 2006, especially the Chiang Mai
Night Safari.
Boonlert said that the municipality would pay more attention to all areas
and had beautified the look of the city at Thapae Road, Jaroen Muang Road,
and Rachadamnern Road and around the canal. The municipality had also
ordered the removal of 400 improper advertising hoardings and officers would
enforce the rules. Chiang Mai will become an untidy city, he said, if the
city police do not enforce the implementation of rules.
Liquor listing protest unabated
Protestors think that alcohol use would
increase at a staggering pace
Nopniwat Krailerg
300 monks, residents and students, representing 67
religious organizations in Chiang Mai gathered at Chiang Mai City Hall on
July 20 to present a petition to Governor Suwat Tantipat calling on the
government not to allow listing the Thai Beverage Plc on the Stock Exchange
of Thailand.
Governor
Suwat Tantipat accepts the petition from the monks’ representative.
Thai Beverage had planned to list on the SET earlier this
year, but was forced to postpone its plans in March following strong public
opposition.
Owned by billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, Thai
Beverage is a holding company under which Chang, Mekhong, Saeng Som, Hong
Thong and other well-known brands of beer and liquor are produced.
The company filed its plans to list on the stock exchange
with regulators last Thursday in what is expected to be Thailand’s largest
ever initial public offering (IPO).
Monks
and students with a sign signifying “Stop Alcohol Entering the Stock
Market” in front of Chiang Mai City Hall.
But the proposed listing has generated a good deal of
criticism due to the perception that the move represents state support for
the consumption of alcohol.
Phra Maha Kitti Ratana Choto, the monk leading the
protest, repeated the statement made by Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang, former
leader of the Palang Dharma party, that Buddhist, Islamic and Christian
teachings all offered cautions regarding the dangers of drinking alcohol,
and questioned how the SEC could permit the company to list.
The listing is, allegedly, being resisted by commissions
of education, religion, art and culture groups. Questionnaires were
distributed to 8,912 schools, 2,711 teachers and parents associations, 3,415
temples, 812 churches and mosques throughout the country, with 99 percent
disagreeing with the SEC listing. Proposing that listing could possibly
change the habits of an entire population, they claimed that doing so would
cause crimes, violence, accidents, poor health and even poverty amongst
citizens.
Governor Suwat Tantipat accepted the petition, promising
to present it to the government.
Distributed flysheets claimed that Thailand was fifth in
the world for alcohol consumption and that the use of alcohol amongst women
and children was increasing at a staggering pace. They predicted that Thai
society would degenerate if the company was allowed to list on the stock
market.
Meanwhile, National Buddhism Office director Jakkratham
Thammasak criticised monks who joined Wednesday’s protest against a liquor
firm’s planned listing on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET). He
sarcastically suggested they should instead help the country by moving to
Buddhist temples in the deep South. Jakkratham said he had heard that monks
from Surin province took part in the protest, in violation of the Supreme
Patriarch’s order about five years ago. Wednesday’s protest, although it
was against an addictive substance, was not any monk’s business, he said.
‘’I believe 95 percent of Buddhists don’t want to see such a
thing,’’ he said. ‘’As for the protesting monks, I want to ask them
to move to temples in the South. And I’ll give them water guns for
sprinkling holy water,’’ he said.
Another 167 lives
enter Chiang Mai Night Safari
Nopniwat
Krailerg
A donation from the National Park, Wildlife and Plant
Conservation Department of 138 head of nine species of animals and another
29 head of five kinds purchased from the Zoological Park Organization have
given the Night Safari of Chiang Mai zoo a lift.
The
tiger’s enclosure waits for tigers.
People are invited to view the animals before the
official opening on November 16 this year, said Yongyut Tiyapairat, minister
of natural resources and environment. He also said that besides giving
animals to the project, he had surveyed 900 rai of the safari to see if
there was some aspect that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
could support, because the night safari was a national treasure.
The Chiang Mai Night Safari will be linked to other
tourism places such as Phra Thad Doi Suthep and the elephant camp, and be
promoted as the largest natural tourism area.
Plodprasope Surasawadee, assistant to the Minister of the PM’s Office
who was responsible for the Night Safari project said that another 1,500
animals of 150 species would be transferred to the night safari, but he
didn’t specify when.
Hmong applicants harassed at Erawan Resort
Saksit
Meesubkwang
The Erawan Resort was searched on July 20 by 150 police
officers from Chiang Mai Provincial Police, led by Pol. Maj. Gen. Pratya
Sutthaprida, deputy commissioner of Provincial Police Region 1.
Asawin
Elserberg, Hill Tribe Foundation president gives information to the police.
Erawan Resort is a Hill Tribe Foundation located at
Tambon Pong Yaeng in Mae Rim, Chiang Mai, and is a temporary residence for
Hmongs moving from Phetchabun, Chiang Rai and Nan waiting to register as
Thai citizens.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Pratya said that he had been assigned to
deal with Hmongs being smuggled into the kingdom, especially Hmong refugees
in Phetchabun. Some Hmongs were in the first group who were awaiting Thai
citizen ID cards.
 Poomee
Saelee, 52, and Yiang Saelee, 47, a couple who used to live in Wiang Kaen,
Chiang Rai, were the only two illegal persons found in the resort.
In the raid, there were only two illegal persons found in
the resort, identified as Poomee Saelee, 52, and Yiang Saelee, 47, a couple
who used to live in Wiang Kaen, Chiang Rai. Poomee said that he was born in
Thailand so wondered why he had no Thai ID card, but held only a highland
person card and was often apprehended.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Pratya added that some influential people
persuaded Laotian Hmongs to enter Thailand claiming they would be sent to a
third country such as USA, and charged them money for this doubtful advice.
He asked all governors to pay attention to illegal immigrants, especially in
Phetchabun province.
Hmongs
in Erawan Resort waiting for their data to be recorded.
Asawin Elserberg, president of Hill Tribe Foundation said that the
foundation supported Hmongs who were born in Thailand but had no Thai
nationality, including helping those Hmongs in Phetchabun and Saraburi to
relocate in third countries. There are 184 Hmong tribesmen in the resort at
present who were all amongst the first group that would be allowed to live
in Thailand as resolved by the government. Meanwhile, 1,075 Hmongs already
hold Thai nationality having been supported by the foundation and there are
965 persons soon to do so.
Chiang Mai municipality aids HIV victims and provides scholarships
Preeyanoot Jittawong
Chiang Mai municipality organized its second AIDS
Training seminar on July 20, with 94 citizens attending, to discuss the
situation of AIDS victims and to encourage their relatives to support them.
Wipawan
Worawutpong, Chiang Mai deputy mayor presents allowances for HIV victims.
Wipawan Worawutpong, Chiang Mai deputy mayor presided
over the training and presented allowances of 500 baht per month for 83 HIV
victims and 11 scholarships of 3,000 baht per year for affected children. He
was joined by Dr. Ken Santitham, Chiang Mai assistant mayor and Dr. Decha
Poopithayakorn, who managed the training.
The AIDS situation in the northern region caused concern as it had spread
rapidly. AIDS victims found in Chiang Mai municipality area are poor and did
not know how to take care of themselves and some relatives were reluctant to
have them living amongst them. The municipality had recognized the problem
and this seminar was one way to deal with it.
Chiang Rai to negotiate trade with Laos in August
Chiangmai
Mail Reporters
In an effort to increase trade with Laos, government
officials and a team led by Chiang Rai Governor Worakiart Somsoi will visit
and consult with government and private sectors of Laos PDR on trade,
investment and tourism cooperation.
It is expected that good cooperation between Chiang Rai
and Laos PDR as regards to investment, trading and tourism plus OTOP will
benefit both countries. A bridge linking the two countries will be
constructed passing over the Mekong River in Chiang Khong, Chiang Rai.
Baan Pi villagers care for the forest and earn from it
Saksit Meesubkwang
Baan Pi villagers have cut fire-breaks in the forest and
separated their area from the Phu Sang conserved forest. In this way the
villagers can manage their forest effectively, to the advantage of the
community, and at the same time provide a natural study source for Phayao
province.
Baan Pi
community forest is bountiful allowing villagers to pick up Makha Mong seeds
to sell.
“Baan Pi community covers 650 rai of land, and is being
developed to become a herbal community and the biggest Makha Mong Forest in
Phayao. Some villagers pick up Makha Mong seeds to sell and these could
bring income of about 10,000 baht per year,” said Thorn Jaidee, Tambon
Wiang chief officer in Chiang Kham.
He added that some villagers act as guides for visitors
to the Baan Pi forest and that could raise additional income of 1,000-2,000
baht each time. Some income was donated to the community fund which now
stood at 60,000 baht. Furthermore, residents were allowed to take honey from
the forest and had received 17,000 baht in the previous year from the honey
concession. This amount would be spent on community leaders’ education so
that they may give advice about community forest management.
The Community Forest Network of Phayao has authorized a budget for Baan
Pi community to maintain the fire-break line.
Suspected Thai spy
beheaded by unknown troops
Terrorist techniques in Mae Hong Son
Saksit Meesubkwang
A Thai man and four Karen tribesmen were fired upon by
unknown assailants. Two were killed and beheaded and five M-14 bombs left
beside the corpses.
Relatives
and neighbors give the two bodies a Christian funeral ceremony.
The five men were hunting wild animals in the forest next
to the Thai-Burmese border, 800 meters away from Baan Mae. The Thai citizen,
Suchat, 48, and Sorae, a Karen tribesman were killed as the others fled.
Surin Lemantu, Kayinni National Progressive Party (KNPP)
secretary-general, said the men came from the Baan Mae Surin refugee camp at
Tambon Khun Yuam in Mae Hong Son.
M-14
explosive devices were left beside the dead bodies.
Suchat was known to be a former field soldier with the
36th Ranger Regiment in Mae Sariang, Mae Hong Son. He may have been
suspected as being a Thai government spy, and his death a brutal object
lesson.
Mae Hong Son Governor Supoj Laowansiri, as a director of the Thai-Burmese
border security center, reported that he had assigned officers and border
patrol police to monitor the Baan Mae Surin refugee camp and to check people
who entered and left the camp. He said the Thai government was pursuing the
unknown troops, a monumental task.
English for investigating officials, a step to improve Thai police
Nopniwat Krailerg and
Preeyanoot Jittawong
Chiang Mai Center for Skill Development held a special
English language training course for investigating police officers at the
intermediate level, stressing four skills, listening, speaking, reading and
writing, that could be used in daily life. There were 50 policemen attending
the training, two non-commissioned police officers and 48 commissioned
police officers.
50
policemen attended English language training at the Holiday Garden Hotel.
The English training started on July 25 at the Holiday
Garden Hotel, Chiang Mai, and will continue to until August 5. This training
was organized because of a request from officers in Chiang Mai as they need
to communicate with foreigners and sometimes get stuck or need an
interpreter. Normally police learn basic English but now they can learn more
skills, being taught by Sanikarn Sookpinit, an officer from the Chiang Mai
Center for Skill Development.
Pol. Maj. Wisit Seubsri, of Mae Ping Police Station, said that the
training would not only add skills for police but add confidence for
officers serving tourists and he expected this kind of training would be
continually organized in future, however, it would be very good initially if
they could learn some technical words used in the investigation process.
Clumsy parking leads to drug arrest
Chiangmai Mail Reporters
Two Chiang Mai residents ended up being arrested after
drawing attention to themselves by parking incorrectly. The clumsy parking
led police to interview the men when they then discovered a drug cache in
the vehicle.
The men, Sanya Puttarak, 33, and Pongsak Boonklai, 32,
had laid a detailed plan, beginning with hiring a car in Chiang Mai and
driving to Mae Sai, pretending to be innocent tourists. They then entered
Burma to purchase drugs from Burmese drug dealers in Tachilek. They were
intending to sell the drugs to teenagers in Chiang Mai.
On their examination of the rented vehicle and the
nervous driver and passenger, police officers found 50 Ecstasy pills and 8
pipes of Ketamine (liquid).
The miscreants were promptly arrested and sent to Mae Sai
Police Station for charging.
Prison fight leads to one death and more injured
Nopniwat Krailerg
A battle between Thai and Burmese prisoners in a police
cell caused one death and two injuries.
The three men involved were sent to Maharaj Nakorn Chiang
Mai Hospital but a Burmese, Su, 22, who had a head injury and several body
wounds later died.
Apparently a Thai had purchased a small Buddha image from
a Burmese but did not pay for it, so the Burmese prisoner asked his
protector to get the money and violence ensued.
Prisoners sell their handiwork
Saksit Meesubkwang
Handicrafts made by prisoners in 30 prisons throughout
the country were shown in the 18th Northern Department of Corrections
product fair in the courtyard of Khamthiang Market in Muang, Chiang Mai. The
fair offered their goods at low prices including carved wooden products,
sewing and other items on display.
Kitti
Limchaikit, Justice Ministry deputy assistant presided over the opening
ceremony of 18th Northern Department of Corrections product fair.
Siriwat Sairatana-in, commissioner of Chiang Mai Central Prison said that
the products cost almost 15 million baht and hoped they would be sold for
not less than 30 million baht, 60 percent of which would go to the prisoners
and the rest kept as capital for next year’s production. Interest is
expected due to the nature and intense hand labor involved the products.
Last year’s sale raised 15 million baht.
Pha Muang Task forces sniff
out secret drug gang
Nopniwat Krailerg
On July 21, officers from the 3rd Calvary Regiment, Pha
Muang task forces were carrying out their normal duties of intercepting drug
traffickers at the Mae Sai-Tachilek border pass in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai when
Corporal Nikhom Dokphrom and Pvt. Den Dokkaew noticed a suspicious samlor.
The vehicle was carrying rolls of cloth from Tachilek to the Thai side,
driven by a Mon, a Burmese National Tai tribesman.
They called him over to carry out an inspection and
noticed him acting suspiciously; and they could also smell the speed pills
that were hidden in the rolls of cloth. They let him through planning to
follow him and arrest the receiver on the Thai side.
They followed him surreptitiously, until he stopped
outside Siam First Tours, one kilometer from the border. The Mon made a
telephone call and eventually Achi (Chinese Haw) from San Sai Village,
Tachilek, Burma came to make the collection, whereupon the two officers
stepped out and carried out their search. They arrested the pair after
having found 21,000 speed pills in 104 bags, and 20 ecstasy pills.
The officers handed the pair over to Mae Sai police to
have charges brought against them and returned to expand their
investigations into border drug trafficking.
Bogus Chinese medical team finds new use for longans
Nopniwat Krailerg
A Chinese bogus medical team has been scamming
Thai-Chinese businessmen in Chiang Mai. Selling drugs purporting to be able
to increase energy and harden their attitude to life, they were charging
10,000 baht per pack, also saying that part of the proceeds was to go to the
tsunami victims in the South of Thailand.
Their pseudo-pharmacy was raided by police and
Wangpao-Chin, 38, from Mainland China and four accomplices, Chuejian
Saewang, 35, Hong Kuy Chue Fujian, 48, Chaoheng-heng, 30 and Chwang Kuy Hu,
62, were arrested at their New Mitraparp Hotel room Tambon Chang Moi, with
over 1,000 packs of medication, 70,000 baht and 1,000 Yuan in cash.
All five claimed that they were a Chinese medical team
here to help victims of the tsunami in the South. They actually went round
selling fake medication to Thai-Chinese locals, mostly gold shop owners in
Chiang Mai.
After being arrested they admitted that they were not a
medical team as claimed and all drugs were made by themselves from herbs and
a mixture of dry longans. They sought out wealthy Thai locals of Chinese
extraction. The police kept the gang in custody and are now tracking down
the rest of bogus team that are scattered in different locations, all
looking for Thai-Chinese with a limp.
|
