Chiang Rai News

Countries Working Together to Curb Drug Running on Mekong

Thai Marine Border Police patroling along the Mekong river, which marks the border between Thailand

CHIANG RAI – Drug runners are now increasingly using Mekong river which flows through Chiang Rai’s Golden Triangle to smuggle drugs out to other parts of the world as the river flows through Greater Mekong Sub-region.

Drug enforcement authorities estimated that no less than 30 million pills or tablets of drugs every year are smuggled out in such a manner.

The increase in drug trafficking prompted authorities of four countries to pool their resources to stem the tide of narcotics being ferried on the fabled river.

Now, Thailand, Laos, China and Myanmar are jointly patrolling the waters of the Mekong to tackle the problem of narcotics being transported on its waters.

The boat patrol routinely departs from the Chieng Saen pier in Chiang Rai and progresses to other strategic piers located on the Laotian and Myanmar side of the river.

Policemen from the Thai Marine Border Police paroling along the Mekong river

The patrol extends as far out as the Golden Triangle in order to police and detect narcotic trafficking on the river which worryingly is on the rise.

Most of the time traffickers employ the numerous small villages as storage locations before distribution to other regions.

The Mekong river is regarded as a multinational waterway that flows all the way from southern China passing through Laos, Myanmar and eventually to Thailand which presents narcotics traffickers with a convenient means of transportation.

Also, because of the river has many tributaries policing the trade is proving to be a major headache for authorities in all four countries.

The river flows directly into the vast Esan (northeastern) region of Thailand allowing traffickers easy access into the country.

Authorities estimate that no less than 30 million pills or tablets of narcotics pass through the river every year and this does take into account “Ice” (crystal methamphetamine) or the raw materials used in narcotics production which are also being transported on the river.

Worryingly, statistics now show that in the past 5 year period there has been a continued rise of narcotics activity in all the four countries situated along the Mekong river.

Crazy pills or known as Yaba and Ice

Wang Hong Lu, the head of the intelligence arm of the Chinese Office of the Narcotics Control Board, admitted that there has been a sustained increase of narcotics trafficking in the southern part of the country which borders Laos, Myanmar and Thailand.

Crazy pills or known as Yaba and Ice trafficking continue to rise where in the past there were only comparatively small number of heroin being ferried on the river.

He stated that it was for this reason that there is now a joint effort from all four countries to tackle the problem.

The Mekong river is now recognized as not only one of the major sources of the narcotics in the region, but also a critical transportation route used for distribution.

The secretary-general of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board Permphong Chaovalit said “only through a coordinated effort from all four countries that can tackle the problem.

The river is a major waterway that stretches all the way to the northeast of the region.

Our counterparts in Myanmar have committed to the effort on the western-most part of the river while in the eastern-most part of the river is being policed by the Chinese authorities, he said.

The middle portion of the river is being looked after by Thailand and Laos and this will mean that effectively, we will have a strong strangle-hold on the river.”

He stated that authorities from all four countries are aware that there are several narcotics groups operating in the Mekong River area.

But so far as they can tell, no clear leader has emerged to replace the notorious Nor Kham, the former Mekong river drug-lord who was arrested by Laos and deported to China where he was eventually executed by Chinese authorities two years ago for the shooting to death of 14 Chinese sailors.

Efforts are underway to share intelligence on narcotics among all four countries and will also try to discover dealer networks based in the respective countries.

It is hoped that these efforts will help to stem the drug trade on the Mekong river,he added.

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.