HAW VILLAGE IDENTIFIED AS WA STRONGHOLD

A stronghold of Wa troops suspected of running drug factories near the
border is located at a Chinese Haw village in Muang district, according to a
border source.

The source said more than 20 men living in Ban Rak Thai of tambon Mok Jam
Pae in Muang district were Wa soldiers led by Col Maha Sang of the Wa
National Army, which runs several drug plants in Burma opposite Tak.

A couple of pick-up trucks were found parked in front of each of the houses
in which the foreign troops were staying, the source added.

A report by the provincial anti-drug centre shows there is a speed pill
factory in a border area between Muang and Pai districts which is accessible
on foot or by four-wheel-drive vehicles only.

According to the report, the centre is focusing its drug suppression on 13
villages of tambon Tham Lod, Na Poo Pom, Pang Ma Pha and Sop Pong in Pang Ma
Pha district.

It was reported that army chief Gen Surayud Chulanont, who inspected the
border in Mae Hong Son early this month, had called for serious action
against any local leaders involved in the drug trade.

Over the past two years, only two large seizures of speed pills have been
made in this northern province, compared with millions of methamphetamine
tablets and drug precursors confiscated in neighbouring Chiang Mai and
Chiang Rai provinces.