FORMER POLICEMAN HELD ON DRUG CHARGES

CHIANG MAI -- A former border patrol policeman was arrested yesterday on
drug charges. His assets worth more than two million baht were also seized.

Pol Sgt-Maj Boonyarit Sriboonruang, 42, formerly of BPP Unit 327 in Mae
Chan district, was charged with stealing 30,000 of confiscated
methamphetamine pills from Chiang Rai's Mae Sai district early last year,
involvement in the drug trade and money laundering.

He was arrested yesterday morning in a raid on his wife's home in San Sai
district. Police seized his land and house, a pick-up truck and a car --
assets believed to have been acquired with drug money.

Pol Maj-Gen Wut Withitanont, assistant chief of Police Region 5, said
Somyos Hirantraporn, who was arrested in Saraburi province on March 14 for
possessing speed pills, said he bought the drugs from Pol Sgt-Maj Boonyarit.