BANGKOK, Nov 5 — Thailand has officially informed Myanmar of 10 key drug suspects wanted by the Thai authorities and are seeking the neighboring country’s help to arrest them.
They include key suspects in drug syndicates in Thailand’s North and major drug kingpin Lt Col Yi Se.
Permpong Chaovalit, secretary-general of the Office of Narcotics Control Board, said the 10 key drug traders are hiding in Myanmar and that the request is a follow-up from the visit of Justice Minister Paiboon Khoomchaya to Myanmar last Friday.
He said the Myanmar government had difficulty finding the suspects in areas under the control of ethnic groups.
Mr Permpong said that next month Thailand, China, Myanmar and Laos will launch a joint campaign to suppress drug trafficking in the Mekong River region.
Areas along the river were occupied by ethnic groups and only an estimated 20 per cent of narcotics transported through the river areas had been blocked, he said.
He mentioned two narcotics smuggling routes to Thailand.
One is on land and connects to the northern provinces of Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai. The other is through the Mekong River and Laos to the Northeast.
Mr Permpong said Thailand agreed with Myanmar’s request to expand development projects in border villages in Myanmar to reduce narcotics production and improve the life of local residents.
The Thai justice minister told Myanmar authorities to select locations for development projects by the Mae Fah Luang Foundation, which would be able to help develop
