POLICE HUNT BANG RON

Police are stepping up efforts to track down drug baron Surachai "Bang Ron"
Ngernthongfu, who has given police the slip for more than two years.

Pol Gen Pornsak Durongkhavibul, the national police chief, said forces from
the Special Branch and anti-drug police have been investigating leads about
the drug suspect's whereabouts.

It is believed Surachai has returned to Bangkok from Burma after having
undergone facial surgery in an attempt to elude capture.

Pol Gen Pornsak played down the report of facial surgery, saying it was
nothing to be worried about as there were several ways to prove the
suspect's identity.

He said authorities had failed to track him down so far because the suspect
received assistance from his associates in and outside the country.

Pol Gen Sant Sarutanont, the deputy national police chief, was sceptical
about reports that Surachai had been travelling back and forth across the
Thai-Burmese border.

He said Surachai was under the protection of the United Wa State Army in
Burma since 1998.