Chiang Rai News

Authorities Fear Chiang Rai’s Friendship Bridge Fueling Drug Trafficking

The bridge links two of the countries comprising the Golden Triangle, through which most heroin and methamphetamine passes on its way to Thai, Chinese and world markets

CHIANG RAI – Officials from Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and China Myanmar-Laos Friendship are raising concerns that the friendship Bridge, which officially opened last month to bring long-awaited economic benefits, also raised concerns over the risk of increased drug trafficking along the route.
The bridge linking Tachilek in Myanmar’s Shan State to Luang Namtha district in Laos is also known as part of Route R3B, which connects Thailand, Myanmar and China. The route links to the R3A Highway, which runs through Thailand, Laos and Xishuangbanna in southern China.

The Friendship Bridge abets trafficking networks, particularly in the northern areas of Shan State where drugs are produced by several ethnic minority groups, said Pol Col Myint Thein, deputy secretary-general of the Myanmar Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control.

Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and China have devised more stringent measures to battle the illicit trade – particularly precursors in drug production – under the Safe Mekong Joint Operation, a project carried out by the four governments to crack down on narcotics production and distribution in the upper Mekong region and Golden Triangle.

Raids are being launched in areas near the bridge as part of the second phase of the project.

Representatives from the four countries met last week to review progress on the operation at the Myanmar-Laos Friendship Bridge. They included Pol Col Myint and Permphong Chavalit, secretary-general of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB).

A local law enforcement officer, who declined to be named, said caffeine (a precursor to methamphetamine) has been smuggled across the bridge several times since its opening. A total of 21 tonnes of caffeine pills – which would have produced 500-600 million speed pills – was confiscated.

Mr Permphong said the R3B and the R3A Highways are popular routes for drug dealers.

“The crackdown has focused on suppressing drug precursors delivered overland and via the Mekong River. The raid will also include tracking down several drug kingpins who are now hiding in neighboring countries,” Mr Permphong said.

“Myanmar authorities also set up many checkpoints as they are on the look-out for illegal drugs,” he said. Mr Permphong added that since Myanmar authorities use outdated technology, they can sometimes fail to detect illegal substances.

“Thai authorities will supply them with the necessary equipment,” he said.

Roughly 20 million baht is earmarked by Thai authorities for the inter-border crackdown operation conducted by the ONCB, which will last until September, according to Mr Permphong.

Justice ministers in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and China have also decided to expand the target areas for drug suppression activities in their own countries this year.

For example, areas along the northern border of Thailand will have heightened surveillance while Chinese authorities will tighten measures in Yunnan. Laos will also expand its drug suppression drive over Bo Kaew and Luang Namtha districts.

Mr Permphong also voiced concern over the deteriorating situation of drug trafficking in Thailand, with a recent increase in the amount of smuggling.

The border passes in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai are the main transit points, as these two provinces are situated close to production and trafficking areas of Myanmar, he said.

Drugs also slip into Thailand through the Myanmar-Thai border in Kanchanaburi’s Sangkhla Buri district in the west.

”We will implement stronger measure intercept the drugs,” said Mr Permphong.

The Myanmar government is also targeting drug production labs and trafficking bases, though the remote and mountainous geography of the northern states makes this a challenging task, said Pol Lt Than Shew, supervisor of the Anti-Narcotics Units.

Several narcotics production bases are located deep in the forests with no road access.

Those areas are also heavily guarded by armed men, Pol Lt Than Shew said.

By King-Oua Laohong

Chiang Rai News

Chiang Rai Man Kills Woman’s Infant Daughter When She Refuses His Sexual Advances

Police in Wiang Kaen District of Chiang Rai Province have arrested a 50 year old man after the threatened to rape a 20 year-old woman and the proceeded to murder her 2 and half month old baby.

Police with doctors from Wiang Kaen Hospital and the Chao Luang Wiang Kaen Welfare Association were summoned to the scene of the incident to a 2-story cement house, Village No. 2, Tha Kham Subdistrict, Wiang Kaen District of Chiang Rai

On arrival they found Ms. Chanikarn, age 20, in a state of distress crying uncontrollably beside her 2 and a half month baby girl (Linlada) that was dead on the floor.

After calming Ms. Chanikarn, the child’s mother, said that at approximately 2:30 p.m she was out to collect diapers that had been dried in front of the house, while her 2 and a half month old daughter was sleep on the ground floor of the house.

She said she was suddenly approached by a Mr. Lee, about 40 years old, who lived on the opposite side of the road. He came towards her and grabbed her arm and threatened her saying if she didn’t sleeping with him he will go and kill his daughter.

Miss Chanikan refused and ran away, then Mr. Lee then walked into the house and grabbed Ms. Linlada’s leg, smashing the child’s head against the cement floor of the house. The infant died immediately.

Mr. Lee then just walked away and returned to his own home, leaving Miss Chanikan and her dead baby.

When police went to Mr. Lee’s home he immediately confessed killing the infant and was taken to Wiang Kaen Police Station for further questioning. Under caution he told police that he was sexually attracted to Miss Chanikan‘s and when her husband leave for work he took the opportunity to approach her.

He said when he saw her husband leave he crossed that road and found Miss Chanikan in the yard alone, he then threatened her to sleep with him, saying he would kill her child if she didn’t have sex with him. However when she refused he flew into a fit of rage walked into her home and murdered he baby. He said he was out of control with rage.

After killing the infant he walk across the street to his home and waited for the police to arrive. The police have charged him with premeditated murder and attempted rape. He is being held without bail at the local remand center.

Meanwhile, Miss Chanikan and her family were preparing a religious burial ceremony for the child.

Other Chiang Rai News:

Machete Wielding Man Shot an Killed by Police in Chiang Rai

https://www.chiangraitimes.com/chiangrai-news/machete-wielding-man-shot-an-killed-by-police-in-chiang-rai/

Chiang Rai News

Police in Chiang Rai Launch Crackdown on Cyber Criminals in Golden Triangle

CHIANG RAI: Prime Minister Settha Thavisin has authorized the establishment of an emergency cyber center operated by the Royal Thai Police to combat transnational crimes committed by call center gangs along the Thai border in Chiang Rai province.

On July 19, Prime Minister Settha Thavisin directed the Center to combat information technology crimes. The Royal Thai Police (Royal Thai Police) will crack down on call center gangs in Myanmar, Laos, and along the border.

His directive comes as call center gangs ratchet up their scams to defraud people of their money, causing concern among Thais and jeopardizing the country’s economic and social stability.

Pol. Gen. Kittirat Panphet, Deputy Commander and Director of the Police Crime Suppression Division, Assigned Pol. Lt. Gen. Thatchai Pitanilabut, Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Police/Deputy Director of the Police Crime Suppression Division, has launched the operation ‘Bombing the Thieves’ Bridge’ in collaboration with the CAT Office, G., mobile phone network operators AIS DTAC TRUE NT, and local security agencies to cut the mobile phone signal and WiFi internet that criminals illegally use to deceive Thai citizens.

Pol. Gen. Kittirat Panphet, Deputy Commander and Director of the Police Crime Suppression Division

Pol. Lt. Gen. Thatchai stated that they will begin pressing the first action of the ‘Explosion of Thieves’ Bridge’ in Chiang Rai Province toward the thieves’ base of operations in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone.

The territory surrounding King Roman in Laos. King Roman is now a full-service entertainment destination with an airport that welcomes travelers from Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar, he explained.

According to Pol. Lt. Gen. Thatchai, this operation will have no influence on honest people along the Thai border, and it will only target cyber criminals.

They will also increase the arrest and prosecution of unlawful service towers, such as SIM booths, which allow gangs register SIM cards to swindle the people. Dealing with criminal organizations of foreigners and Thais who band together to deceive and damage Thais.

Pol. Gen. Kittirat Panphet, Deputy Commander and Director of the Police Crime Suppression Division

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) suspended more than three million SIM cards on July 16 because the holders had not verified their identities with their mobile phone operators by the deadline, in accordance with the NBTC’s measures to combat alleged fraudsters’ mule accounts.

The names of the holders of 80 million mobile phone numbers used for mobile banking transactions did not match the names associated with the mobile banking accounts.

The NBTC would require mobile phone companies to authenticate SIM card holders and the names of their mobile banking accounts. The verification procedure is expected to be completed by the end of September this year.

In addition, the NBTC and Royal Thai Police have collaborated to combat illegal telecom towers throughout the country’s borders, disconnecting signals at 465 places, altering antenna direction at 470 towers, and dismantling antennas at 179 locations.

They are certain that the move will disrupt contact center gangs and other types of technology-based crime.

Other Chiang Rai News:

Machete Wielding Man Shot an Killed by Police in Chiang Rai

https://www.chiangraitimes.com/chiangrai-news/machete-wielding-man-shot-an-killed-by-police-in-chiang-rai/

Chiang Rai News

Machete Wielding Man Shot an Killed by Police in Chiang Rai

Police in Mae Chan, Chiang Rai, shot and killed a 28-year-old man who allegedly attacked a police officer with a machete. The officer was slashed in the right leg with the machete.

According to police, the culprit, known only as Mr. Toon, had been harassing local villagers in Mae Chan district, Chiang Rai, threatening them with a knife and using violet insults.

The village headman arrived on the scene to try to calm Mr. Toon, but he was shouting hysterically and taking swipes at him with the machete, so he contacted the police.

When the responding officer arrived at the site about 9 p.m., he attempted to calm the man, but he instead assaulted the officer, slashing his right leg with the machete. In self-defense, the cop had to fire his gun at Mr. Toon, striking him in the chest.

Mr. Toon and the policeman were taken to Mae Chan Hospital, where Mr. Toon died of a gunshot wound. Pol Sgt. Sutthikiat Phanomphraisakul was released from the hospital after receiving numerous stitches for his injuries.

Local police received a tip around 9.30 p.m. yesterday that a guy was causing mayhem in the village. When authorities arrived, they discovered 28-year-old Toon strolling along a public road, holding a large knife and threatening people. Mae Chan district officials attempted to contain the incident.

During a search of Mr. Toon’s home, authorities discovered methamphetamine consumption equipment. Locals told authorities that the man was addicted to Yaba (Methamphetamine) and an alcoholic.

The authorities are conducting an inquiry to determine Toon’s motivations and whether any underlying issues contributed to his violent outburst.