Chiang Rai News

US Drug Enforcement Administration on the Mekong

Mekong awash with drugs, Traffickers look to new routes

Facing death if caught, for a measly 5,000 baht, drug mules swim across the Mekong river from Laos with loads of methamphetamines.

The illegal drug smuggling along the Mekong River is growing rapidly with “mules” with special shoes and swimmers who carry guns and bombs.

Along the border between Thailand and Laos, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is currently involved in a new battle to stop the flow of illegal substances.

The U.S. DEA Thailand has been working for years to counter the resurgence of drugs – especially methamphetamine, ice (methamphetamine) and cannabis – smuggled into the United States of certain Asian countries through Thailand, is concentrated mainly along the border with Burma and the Golden Triangle.

The drugs are smuggled into Laos first and then spirited across the Mekong River into Thailand

“In these days, ya ba [meth] has become a growing problem in the U.S. … and the best is to address the drug problem at its source,” Sombat said Chao, a U.S. agent. UU. DEA special.

The harsh repression against drug trafficking on the border between Thailand and Burma has forced traffickers to seek alternative routes along the border between Thailand and Laos, said Pol Col Thanachai Phianchang, head of the Sub-Division 10 Division Marine Police, which oversees drug suppression along the Mekong River in Nakhon Phanom, Ubon Ratchathani, Amnat Charoen and Mukdahan provinces.

Drugs are smuggled into Laos and then spirit through the Mekong River in Thailand, said Pol Col Thanachai who is responsible for the fight against drug smuggling problem along the border between Thailand and Laos to Mukdahan to Ubon Ratchathani

The frequency of drug smuggling from Laos to Thailand is growing rapidly. The most common tactics is to smuggling methamphetamine tablets in a pair of shoes modified to hide the drug.

As much as between 1. 000 and 2,000 ya ba pills can be filled at a pair of shoes.

Another tactic of drug trafficking is to swim across the river and the fall of the drugs in the Thai banks.

This tactic is much more difficult to detect and intercept traffickers who chose to leave isolated wooded areas where drug traffickers others collect.
The dealers are very experienced in Laos to swim across the fast flowing river, said Pol Col Thanachai, adding that drug traffickers often use a plastic oil container to help keep them afloat.

They usually work in teams of at least five members who each receive about 5,000 baht for drug trafficking, he said.

Khemarat district of Ubon Ratchathani is seen as a “red zone” for drug trafficking from Laos. This district is the opposite of Songkhone district of Savannakhet province, Laos.

Ban Tha Prachum, a village in Laos in Songkhone district, directly opposite Khemarat district has become one of the greatest places for storage of drugs waiting to be victims of trafficking in Thailand, said Pol Col Thanachai.

Pol Lt Col Phumphothong Sanya, head of the checkpoint room Marine Police Division 10 in Khemarat district, said the fight against drug trafficking does not happen all day.

During the day, police officers are stationed at the border to look for passengers on arrival to the drugs that may have been hidden somewhere in their bodies or luggage.

At night, the marine police are also responsible for intercepting drug traffickers to swim across the river – a much more difficult task that can not be achieved without accurate information from respondents.

Equipped with night vision telescopes, the marine police wait in hiding to catch anyone who is swimming across the river.

It is a difficult and dangerous as the traffickers would rather die than be arrested.

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.