No.03 - 10/2005
04 October 2005

Drugs

Drug stained group gets credit with Thailand

The Karen splinter group, long considered a drug smuggling organization in Thailand, handed over one of the most wanted criminals taking refuge in Burma back to Thailand on 2 October, reported Bangkok-based Khom Chad Luek daily yesterday.

A former non-commissioned officer from the Thai army, Sgt Chainarong Busrakhtam "Muek", 45, of Maesod, who has for 3-4 years been living in Myawaddy, was delivered to the Maesod-based 4th Infantry Regiment by Maj San Pyo, Commander of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA)'s anti-narcotics unit. "From now on, we will cooperate fully with Thailand," he promised.

Chainarong has been on the 5th most wanted list of Police Region 6 over several charges, including drug trafficking, robbery and importing illegal migrant laborers.

Several drug consignments seized by the Thai army in the past have been traced to the DKBA that had broken away from the main Karen opposition movement Karen National Union (KNU) in 1995. Its switch of allegiance to the Burma Army had contributed to the fall of the KNU's stronghold Manerplaw.