THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION YA BA BUST IN CHIANG MAI

But The Big Fish Escapes Again

Drug Suppression Division of Provincial Police Bureau, Region 5, in
cooperation with Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), United State's
Department of Justice arrested a Hmong drug dealer, Chaiyong
Worachotwanaprai, 31, and seized a total of 750,000 ya ba tablets in Chiang
Dao district, Chiang Mai on August 15.

A press conference was held at the Provincial Police Bureau, Region 5 with
Chiang Mai Governor Suwat Tantipat, Pol Lt Gen Chalor Chuwong, Commissioner
of Provincial Police Bureau, Region 5, Pol Lt Gen Watcharapol
Prasarnratchakij, Commander of the Drug Suppression Division, and American
and Thai officials of the DEA, and Chiang Mai Police Airborne Unit in
attendance.

Following a tip-off, DEA officials knew that a large quantity of ya ba
tablets were being smuggled into Thailand to be delivered to a major dealer
in Bangkok. Pissanu Laoree, or Thanapong Taweehirunkul, and his
accomplices, who reside in Chiang Dao district, would transfer the ya ba
being kept in Ban Pang Klang in Tambon Toong Khao Puang, Chiang Dao
district to the dealer by pick-up truck.

The police and DEA officials set up a checkpoint and road block on the
Chotana (Chiang Mai - Fang) Highway and arrested the driver, Chaiyong, who
had 274,000 ya ba pills hidden under the pick-up truck's mudguards.

On questioning, Chaiyong admitted that he was paid 100,000 baht to deliver
the ya ba to Thanapong and his accomplices. However, police were not the
only one's to receive tip-offs and they found that Thanapong and his gangs
had escaped.

Afterwards, the police and DEA officials searched Chaiyong's father's house
in Wiang Pa Pao district, Chiang Rai, and Chaiyong's wife in Doi Luang
Sub-district, Chiang Rai but they found no ya ba. Another police team
discovered 476,000 tablets of ya ba at a house in Tambon Toong Khao Puang,
Chiang Dao district, Chiang Mai belonging to Anucha Laoree or Chanon
Taweehirunkul, brother of the escaped Thanapong Taweehirunkul.

Chaiyong was charged with being an accomplice with Thanapong and Anucha
Taweehirunkul in the possession of drugs. Chanon Taweehirunkul was also
accused of possessing a weapon without a permit.