Afghan drug trafficker arrested in Thailand

BANGKOK: -- The United States and Thai officials on Monday night jointly hunt down and arrested an Afghan man charged of drug trafficking in Bangkok, local press reportedon Wednesday.

The Afghan man named Mohammad Omar Azizi was alleged of smuggling drugs into the US through Thailand.

The 24-year-old Azizi from Kabul was also charged of laundering money earned from drug business through his jewelry shop in downtown Bangkok and then use the money to fund terrorist groups.

"According to the US Drug Enforcement Administration, the gang sent laundered money earned from smuggling drugs to international terrorist groups in various countries," deputy chief of Crime Suppression Division subdivision 2 Jakkrit Iamchaengphan was quoted by Bangkok Post as saying.

However, no evidence was found out at the Afghan's room that could prove he had been planning any terror attacks in Thailand,said Jakkrit.

The police did find out a faked Italian passport bearing Azizi's photo and suspected him planning to escape from Thailand by this doctored document.

Azizi's five complice from Afghanistan and Pakistan were arrested last year in Bangkok and extradited to the US on chargeof drug smuggling.

Police said that Azizi would also be extradited to the US to face charges.

--Agencies 2004-06-30

He must have entered illegally, because i think Afghans are not allowed to enter Thailand.