316th Border Patrol Police raze opium fields in Uttaradit

The 316th Border Patrol Police Company razed opium field and seized more than 60 tons of opium plants in Uttaradit province.

The Commander of the 316th Border Patrol Police Company, Pol. Lt. Col. Norawee Pumcharoen (นรวีร์ พุ่มเจริญ ), reports that opium fields have been discovered in the muang district of Uttaradit province. A force of 10 border patrol policemen were therefore dispatched to the area to investigate and discovered opium being grown in a combined corn field. 60 tons of opium plants were seized and burned.

The Commander of the 316th Border Patrol Police Company revealed that once harvested, the opium plants can be processed into 30 kilograms of opium at a price of 2,500 baht per kilogram.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 05 September 2007

2,500 baht per kilogram? Seems way to low.

I've noticed a lot of money in Uttaradit the last few years - new big houses & cars

They may need to keep some of that opium to distrubute to people living near the airport! Might be cheaper than buying those expensive imported drugs--or maybe they've broken the patent on them too!