Pubdate: Sat, 21 Aug 2004
Source: Chiangmai Mail (Thailand)
Copyright: 2004 Chiangmai Mail
Contact:  http://www.chiangmai-mail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3105
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION YA BA BUST IN CHIANG MAI

But The Big Fish Escapes Again

Drug Suppression Division of Provincial Police Bureau, Region 5, in 
cooperation with Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), United State's 
Department of Justice arrested a Hmong drug dealer, Chaiyong 
Worachotwanaprai, 31, and seized a total of 750,000 ya ba tablets in Chiang 
Dao district, Chiang Mai on August 15.

A press conference was held at the Provincial Police Bureau, Region 5 with 
Chiang Mai Governor Suwat Tantipat, Pol Lt Gen Chalor Chuwong, Commissioner 
of Provincial Police Bureau, Region 5, Pol Lt Gen Watcharapol 
Prasarnratchakij, Commander of the Drug Suppression Division, and American 
and Thai officials of the DEA, and Chiang Mai Police Airborne Unit in 
attendance.

Following a tip-off, DEA officials knew that a large quantity of ya ba 
tablets were being smuggled into Thailand to be delivered to a major dealer 
in Bangkok. Pissanu Laoree, or Thanapong Taweehirunkul, and his 
accomplices, who reside in Chiang Dao district, would transfer the ya ba 
being kept in Ban Pang Klang in Tambon Toong Khao Puang, Chiang Dao 
district to the dealer by pick-up truck.

The police and DEA officials set up a checkpoint and road block on the 
Chotana (Chiang Mai - Fang) Highway and arrested the driver, Chaiyong, who 
had 274,000 ya ba pills hidden under the pick-up truck's mudguards.

On questioning, Chaiyong admitted that he was paid 100,000 baht to deliver 
the ya ba to Thanapong and his accomplices. However, police were not the 
only one's to receive tip-offs and they found that Thanapong and his gangs 
had escaped.

Afterwards, the police and DEA officials searched Chaiyong's father's house 
in Wiang Pa Pao district, Chiang Rai, and Chaiyong's wife in Doi Luang 
Sub-district, Chiang Rai but they found no ya ba. Another police team 
discovered 476,000 tablets of ya ba at a house in Tambon Toong Khao Puang, 
Chiang Dao district, Chiang Mai belonging to Anucha Laoree or Chanon 
Taweehirunkul, brother of the escaped Thanapong Taweehirunkul.

Chaiyong was charged with being an accomplice with Thanapong and Anucha 
Taweehirunkul in the possession of drugs. Chanon Taweehirunkul was also 
accused of possessing a weapon without a permit.
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