TWO MAJOR DRUG DEALERS KILLED CARRYING 800,000 YA BA PILLS

More Extra-Judicial Killings? Both on Police Blacklist

Hang Dong police report the extra-judicial killing of two major drugs
suspects, while seizing 800,000 amphetamine tablets in Chiang Mai's Hang
Dong district. Sombat Puang-ngern, 40 years old, together with Tee, his
Chinese aide, were killed in the early hours of December 16 by the drug
suppression police, during a drug bust about kilometer 32 on the Chiang
Mai-Samoeng Road, in Tambon Ban Pong, Hang Dong district Chiang Mai
province. Sombat and Tee were on the police blacklist of major drug
dealers, and had been followed by undercover police.

Assistant Police Chief of the National Police Bureau, Pol. Lt. Gen
Priaophan Damaphong led the investigation and his police inspected the
crime scene, where they found a pick up truck and the bodies of the two
suspects.

Both bodies were still holding 9 mm handguns, with both men dying from
gunshot wounds. Inspection of the pickup truck driven by the suspects
revealed a travel bag which contained 800,000 ya ba pills, hidden
underneath the back seat. Assistant Police Chief Pol. Lt. Gen. Priaophan
said that the ya ba pills found were still fresh, apparently just produced
and smuggled over the border.

He also added that some of the drug barons have returned to the drug trade,
but police already are keeping a close eye on them. "If they return to drug
smuggling, we will suppress them immediately. At this time, all drug
dealers are much more careful. Some of them are putting government
organization stickers on their vehicles to try to avoid police interception
and check point inspections. The police still have to follow up suspects
who are still at large and on the blacklists," he added.