CLOSE AIDE TO KHUN SA HELD AND FACES EXTRADITION TO US

A close aide to Khun Sa has been arrested in Chiang Rai at the
request of United States authorities, the national police chief said
yesterday.

Yang Wan Hsuan, or Lao Tai, was detained on Tuesday night while
hiding at a house along the bank of Mae Sai river, said Pol Gen
Pornsak Durongkhaviboon. The police chief announced the arrest at
police headquarters with representatives of the US Drug Enforcement
Agency.

Lao Tai has connections with local drug dealers who traffick in
heroin and methamphetamines.

The police chief said investigators have no evidence against Lao Tai
but they would co-operate with the Office of Attorney-General in
detaining him for extradition to the US.

The suspect, who was brought to Bangkok yesterday, would probably
stand trial on drug charges in the US.

The police chief said Lao Tai, 55, a former secretary to Khun Sa and
head of the Shan State Army (SSA) political affairs section, is one
of the most wanted drug traffickers in the US.

The others are Khun Sa, a former leader of SSA, Wei Hsueh Kang,
leader of Red Wa, Chang Hsue Chuan, SSA's chief-of-staff, and Lamdab
Namsuwakhon, a drug dealer and aide to Khun Sa.

Lao Tai is believed to have details of the inner workings of SSA
narcotics trafficking as well as Khun Sa's financial interests.

The State Department had posted a reward of US$2 million for
information leading to the arrest and conviction of Lao Tai and Khun
Sa.

Pol Gen Pornsak said 13 drug traffickers have been arrested and
extradited to the US to stand trial at its request.