Pubdate: Sat, 20 Dec 2003 Source: Chiangmai Mail (Thailand) Copyright: 2003 Chiangmai Mail Contact: http://www.chiangmai-mail.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3105 Authors: PRD, Chiang Mai and Natchawi Srirat Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) TWO MAJOR DRUG DEALERS KILLED CARRYING 800,000 YA BA PILLS More Extra-Judicial Killings? Both on Police Blacklist Hang Dong police report the extra-judicial killing of two major drugs suspects, while seizing 800,000 amphetamine tablets in Chiang Mai's Hang Dong district. Sombat Puang-ngern, 40 years old, together with Tee, his Chinese aide, were killed in the early hours of December 16 by the drug suppression police, during a drug bust about kilometer 32 on the Chiang Mai-Samoeng Road, in Tambon Ban Pong, Hang Dong district Chiang Mai province. Sombat and Tee were on the police blacklist of major drug dealers, and had been followed by undercover police. Assistant Police Chief of the National Police Bureau, Pol. Lt. Gen Priaophan Damaphong led the investigation and his police inspected the crime scene, where they found a pick up truck and the bodies of the two suspects. Both bodies were still holding 9 mm handguns, with both men dying from gunshot wounds. Inspection of the pickup truck driven by the suspects revealed a travel bag which contained 800,000 ya ba pills, hidden underneath the back seat. Assistant Police Chief Pol. Lt. Gen. Priaophan said that the ya ba pills found were still fresh, apparently just produced and smuggled over the border. He also added that some of the drug barons have returned to the drug trade, but police already are keeping a close eye on them. "If they return to drug smuggling, we will suppress them immediately. At this time, all drug dealers are much more careful. Some of them are putting government organization stickers on their vehicles to try to avoid police interception and check point inspections. The police still have to follow up suspects who are still at large and on the blacklists," he added. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager