Alleged drug kingpin turned in

The Burmese man will be extradited to the U.S. for trial. He is accused of
trafficking in heroin.

REUTERS

BANGKOK The man accused of masterminding the biggest heroin haul in U.S.
history was returned to Thailand from Burma yesterday and said he was ready
to be extradited to face trial in the United States.

``I am prepared to go to the United States to stand trial there,'' Li Yun
Chung said on arrival in Bangkok after the Burmese military government handed
him over to Thai authorities.

Li fled to Burma after jumping bail in Thailand in March while awaiting a
court decision on extradition to the United States. Washington complained
about the decision to grant bail to Li, who has a Thai identity card.

The Burmese government had denied sheltering Li, the main suspect in a drug
haul worth up to $122 million.

Li, who said he fled to the northern Thai border town of Tachilek with the
help of a Chinese friend, apologized for having jumped bail.

``I would like to ask Thais to forgive me for causing this embarrassment,''
he said in fluent Thai.

Burma's ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council said its decision to
hand Li over to Thailand was aimed at boosting the region's fight against
drug trafficking.

Li was indicted by a New York court in May 1996 in connection with the
largest heroin haul ever in the United States the seizure in 1991 of
nearly 1,070 pounds in Hayward, Calif.

Drug officials put the U.S. street value of the seizure at $87.5 million to
$122 million.

Li was the second major drug suspect wanted in the United States who was
seeking refuge in Burma.

Opium trafficker Khun Sa, also wanted on drug charges in the United States,
is living in Rangoon after surrendering to Burmese troops last year. Burma
has vowed not to extradite him and said the government would deal with him in
its own way.

Li's handover to Thai authorities occurred the same day Thai Prime Minister
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh completed a twoday official visit to Rangoon, where he
discussed border cooperation and the joint fight against drugs.

U.S. drug officials have accused Burma, which they say is the largest
producer of opium, of not doing enough to fight the narcotics scourge.

The officials estimate that more than half of the heroin on the streets in
the United States originates in Burma.

The Philadelphia Inquirer, National Copyright Monday, May 19, 1997