Shock police probe into drug dealing and money laundering linked with Myanmar to strain ties

[webfact]

Police Colonel Kritsana Pattanacharoen (centre) confirmed the police operation on Wednesday leading to sitting Thai senator Upakit Pachariyangkun (left top) denying any links with illicit activity and defending Myanmar tycoon Dr Tun Min Latt (right top) whose firm is linked to the Myanmar junta under General Min Aung Hlaing (right bottom) and his daughter Khin Theri Thet Mon (left bottom). The probe is into drug trafficking and money laundering with police also looking at suspicions that electricity supplied by Thailand to Myanmar may have been paid for with the proceeds of drugs.

 

by Carla Boonkong & Pranee O' Connor
 

The arrest of Dr Tun Min Latt who is at the heart of a vast conglomerate with extensive links to Myanmar’s ruling junta on suspicion of drug trafficking and money laundering shines a spotlight on the murky links between Myanmar’s rulers and the criminality on Thailand’s borders linked with the Golden Triangle drug producing zone. At the heart of the story is a conglomerate supplying services to Myanmar’s junta which has long been adept at evading international sanctions and the law outside its borders.

A Thai police operation into suspected drug trafficking and money laundering operations linked to a Myanmar-based conglomerate involved in arms dealing, electricity supply and provisioning food to Myanmar’s armed forces, looks set to rock relations between the two countries. The probe has already led to a current Thai senator whose son-in-law is reported to be among four people arrested on Saturday last the 17th of September in an anti-drugs and money laundering police swoop, strenuously denying any links with wrongdoing or illicit business activities after police on Wednesday confirmed the arrest of Dr Tun Min Latt of the Star Sapphire Group closely linked with the daughter of Myanmar’s dictator and leader of the junta in Nay Pyi Taw, General Min Aung Hlaing.

 

A sitting Thai senator on Thursday came out to deny close links with a Myanmar tycoon arrested by an anti-drugs unit of the Royal Thai Police on Saturday 17th September in an early dawn raid.

 

Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2022/09/24/police-probe-myanmar-firm-drugs-money-laundering-thai-senator/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2022-09-24

 

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[webfact]

Junta-Linked Myanmar Tycoon Under Initial 12-Day Detention
TNR Staff

 

 

A MYANMAR tycoon linked to the upper echelons of his country’s ruling military junta and facing drug trafficking and money laundering charges in Thailand was ordered by court to an initial 12-day detention on Sept. 20, Matichon newspaper said yesterday (Sept. 23).

 

Tun Min Latt, 53, was arrested in Bangkok in a dawn raid last week after which three Thais, a 38-year-old man and two women aged 44 and 50 respectively, were also similarly arrested and detained. 

 

Three sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters that Tun Min Latt, who has business interests in hotels, energy and mining, is a close associate of Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing and has procured supplies for the military.

 

Full story: https://thainewsroom.com/2022/09/23/junta-linked-myanmar-tycoon-under-initial-12-day-detention/

 

-- © Copyright  THAI NEWSROOM 2022-09-24

 

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[TheFishman1]

Where there’s smoke there’s fire obviously the drug movement from Miramar to Thailand will not happen without the full cooperation with the top brass here in Thailand it’s been going on that way for years and years TIT

[spidermike007]

If we only knew the full extent and complicity of the officials here. The fact that the Burmese military is involved is no surprise. Many of their generals are billionaires, with fortunes made from timber, mining, gemstones and drugs. 

[RichardColeman]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

and has procured supplies for the military

Wonder what the % finders fee was ? 

[nobodysfriend]

Myanmar government seems to be composed of (war)criminals .

That is a pariah state by now , worse than North Korea .

That high ranked officials on both sides seem to be involved in illegal activities comes as no surprise here ...

[Tropicalevo]

The fact that the military in Burma are involved in the drug trade at the highest level has been known for years.

The drug dealers can only operate if they pay the military.

The other side of this one is that the money is laundered through Singapore as 'development' projects and the like. And the Singapore government know where the money comes from!

Death penalty for the little guys and visas for the big ones.

[mikebell]

Thai senators deny knowledge/friendship with the accused; well they would, wouldn't they?  Is this a sign that Thailand is at last getting a police force?

[kcpattaya]

Now the digging started, it is time to get rid of the evidence ($$$) and stash it somewhere overseas.
"Follow the money" is my two cents worth. 

[Cake Monster]

40 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

The fact that the military in Burma are involved in the drug trade at the highest level has been known for years.

The drug dealers can only operate if they pay the military.

The other side of this one is that the money is laundered through Singapore as 'development' projects and the like. And the Singapore government know where the money comes from!

Death penalty for the little guys and visas for the big ones.

There are plenty of " Development Projects " within Thailand.

keep building - no sales - keep building

[klauskunkel]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

A sitting Thai senator on Thursday came out to deny

wonder if that's one of the appointed senators

[MyFriend You]

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

If we only knew the full extent and complicity of the officials here. The fact that the Burmese military is involved is no surprise. Many of their generals are billionaires, with fortunes made from timber, mining, gemstones and drugs. 

He's being 'detained for 12 days' wouldn't be surprised is he becomes a suicide victim to keep all the above secret Thai cohorts "still a secret"     Peace

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

If we only knew the full extent and complicity of the officials here. The fact that the Burmese military is involved is no surprise. Many of their generals are billionaires, with fortunes made from timber, mining, gemstones and drugs. 

You can imagine the corruption in Myanmar with the Junta having a free pass at the wealth, then fast forward to Thailand and see the same.

I wonder just how rich some have got over the last 8 years.

[spidermike007]

8 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

You can imagine the corruption in Myanmar with the Junta having a free pass at the wealth, then fast forward to Thailand and see the same.

I wonder just how rich some have got over the last 8 years.

Likely billions upon billions. The army is not known for integrity. Hopefully it will be sorted out in the Hague, before these dinosaurs buy the farm. 

[brianthainess]

1 hour ago, TunnelRat69 said:

He's being 'detained for 12 days' wouldn't be surprised is he becomes a suicide victim to keep all the above secret Thai cohorts "still a secret"     Peace

My money is, on him being released on bail. after appeal. 

[spidermike007]

2 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

wonder if that's one of the appointed senators

That is likely, as the rot starts at the army, and filters down. Few really know the full extent of the corruption of the ruling party, but if history holds true, it is utterly massive. The watches were simply a dumb mistake, by a dinosaur who cannot think on his feet. How about the Swiss villas, the Manhattan penthouses, and the overseas accounts?

[trainman34014]

Oh Dear; this could lead to another Senior Policeman having to leave the country in fear of his life and taking his Family with him.  'Policemen' are not allowed to be Policemen here unless they are only targetting the poorer Somchai's !

[steevjee]

10 hours ago, mikebell said:

Thai senators deny knowledge/friendship with the accused; well they would, wouldn't they?  Is this a sign that Thailand is at last getting a police force?

What a completely new one? be nice but only a pipedream

[bristolgeoff]

looking into drugs money and anything else involved in this you have go back decades and many people involved.It will take years if you can find out anything

[steven100]

Thailand accusing Myanmar of drug smuggling and money laundering !!     

 

oh the irony  ....     so funny  !!

[d4dang]

15 hours ago, bristolgeoff said:

looking into drugs money and anything else involved in this you have go back decades and many people involved.It will take years if you can find out anything

The Politics of Heroin in Southeast Asia is a great book about the roots of the drug trade in Thailand.