BORDER CO-OPERATION RESULTS IN LARGE HEROIN BUST IN TACHILEK

Two Thai men were arrested in Tachilek with about 68kg of heroin on Monday
following co-operation between Thai and Burmese officials.

Col Surasak Boonsiri, head of the 4th Cavalry Task Force and co-chairman of
the Thai-Burmese township border committee (TBC), said there had been
information a large quantity of heroin would be delivered by car from the
Tachilek border checkpoint to Mae Sai.

Thai authorities lay in wait on Monday, but the traffickers did not cross
the border as expected.

"I contacted the TBC and Burmese customs officials and action was taken,"
said Col Surasak. The Burmese arrested Noppakhun Duangkham, 27, of Chiang
Mai's Mae Ai district, and Jai Ongkham of Wiang Haeng district. Mr
Noppakhun was shot in the leg.