US Extradites Thai Drug Gang Member After 9 Years

[webfact]

US extradites drug gang man after 9 years

By Kesinee Taengkhieo

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Suwit "Cheng" Prasoprat, a member of the China-based "14K" drug gang, was handed over to Thai authorities on Sunday, nine years after a request for his extradition was filed, deputy attorney-general Thavorn Panichpan said yesterday.

Thavorn said members of the drug gang fled overseas after police investigators filed a case in February 2001 against Thaveewit Krairattanareuk, 46, plus Suwit and four others for having 3.6 tonnes of heroin destined for the US, and the attorney-general agreed to prosecute the gang.

Once it was discovered that Suwit was lying low in the US, Thai authorities filed an extradition request in March 2001, which was approved by an American court. However, Suwit appealed against the extradition in 2002, and though the Appeal Court upheld the lower court ruling, he appealed again to the Supreme Court. On April 19 this year, the US authorities notified Thailand that the extradition request had finally been approved and Suwit arrived in Bangkok on Sunday.

Lawyer Rewat Chanprasert said they previously extradited Boonsong Mekpongsathorn, 60, another suspect in the same case who also fled to the US.

Boonsong had been given the death sentence by the Thon Buri Criminal Court in January 2005, and the case was now with the Appeal Court. Thaveewit and another suspect, Komsak Kornjamrassakul, 50, were given life sentences in June 2001 and are now appealing their jail terms.

Narcotics Suppression Bureau chief Pol Lt-General Adithep Panjamanont said court permission would be sought to detain Suwit for a week pending further investigation, before the case was handed to prosecutors. He said the case stemmed from an arrest in 1998 over the possession of 126 kg of heroin on its way to the United States.

Police inquiries showed that Suwit, a Thai man with two nationalities and an address in the US, plus accomplices in China and Hong Kong known as the 14K gang, had carried out criminal activities in Thailand including arms deals, human trafficking and drug dealing.

Thai and US authorities worked together on the case until they had enough evidence for arrest warrants for Suwit and Boonsong in 2001, he said.

Adithep added that the police would extend the investigation to cover money-laundering and other criminal charges on Thai soil against Suwit, his accomplices and the 14K gang.

It was also reported that there are two other suspects in the same case - Suchat Rakraeng, who remains at large, and Kriengkrai Diewtrakul, who is in a Chiang Rai prison for another crime.

-- The Nation 2010-05-11

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[Scully]

3.6 tonnes of heroin

Only small time traffickers then.

[Shotime]

Sounds like a nice enough guy.

Humans are a very fuc_ked up species. The word "evil" applies. Unfortunately, the world is run by sociopaths.

[shawndoc]

Just keep this in mind next time you want to complain about how long the Thai court system takes. They aren't the only ones.

[haveaniceday]

3.6T

Can anyone remember back to confirm this, not that I really care to much, just wondering if it is another mistake by The Nation.

Even 126kg is huge in my opinion.

You just wonder how many of the 3.6T shipment get through. Many must when you look at the number of addicts doing crimes like break and enters and stealing my stuff to buy their next sniff.

Mind boggles.

[PETDCAT]

Thai and US authorities worked together on the case until they had enough evidence for arrest warrants for Suwit and Boonsong in 2001, he said.

So I guess Suwit has been sitting in a nice Federal prison in the States fighting his extradition since 2001.. Well He can say goodbye to His nice air conditioned cell with color cable TV,and three square meals a day and come back to his homeland and do some real time.Welcome to the Bangkok Hilton.

Sum num na

[hardy1943]

Just keep this in mind next time you want to complain about how long the Thai court system takes. They aren't the only ones.

A death sentence in the US can be drawn out to 10-15 years and millions

of Dollars to the tax payers.The Russians have a much better system THE WORK THEM TO DEATH.

[yesdavy]

Is it true that criminals can pay somebody to do their jail time? If so, these guys were big enough operators to make a stand-in rich and never miss the cash.

[gemini81]

Just keep this in mind next time you want to complain about how long the Thai court system takes. They aren't the only ones.

A death sentence in the US can be drawn out to 10-15 years and millions

of Dollars to the tax payers.The Russians have a much better system THE WORK THEM TO DEATH.

really? thats more constructive. tell me about it.

[HappyDavid]

Even 126kg is huge in my opinion.

Here's an interesting estimate from back when these boys tried to smuggle their smack.

"According to the National Drug Intelligence Center’s National Drug Threat Assessment 2003, heroin is cultivated from opium poppies in four source areas: South America, Mexico, and Southeast and Southwest Asia. Opium cultivation decreased from 5,082 metric tons during 2000 to 1,255 metric tons during 2001. This led to a reduction in heroin production from 482.2 metric tons during 2000 to 109.3 metric tons during 2001."

[asiawatcher]

Surely this must be an all time record - 3.6 tons has to be a huge cache - what was the street value of this? Yes - find the money trail... they had to pay for it with something... or they received payment up front and all roads lead to ...

[Humphrey Bear]

14K is one of the main triads in HK.

Chinese managed, run. These guys were only fringe participants in the operation, maybe overseeing some of the in-country transportation. No way would the Chinese allow them to be major players.

But again, even minor participants can make big bucks in the drug industry - it needs to be stopped, but how? I personally favour Thaksin's solution, but at high level, not just the street vendor level.

[Chunky1]

So I guess this guy will be out on the street soon or moved to a "special private top secret prison" to serve out his remaining sentence?

[Deez]

9 years worth of US taxpayers money. Lawyers and food shelter etc. (estimate 100k/year. Close to a million$)

Something not right about that. And Im not even a US citizen

[topsecret]

Who on earth would want to flee to the US? They could have fleed to Cambodia and saved them selves a fortune!

Anyway, serves them right!

[montanan]

Just keep this in mind next time you want to complain about how long the Thai court system takes. They aren't the only ones.

A death sentence in the US can be drawn out to 10-15 years and millions

of Dollars to the tax payers.The Russians have a much better system THE WORK THEM TO DEATH.

really? thats more constructive. tell me about it.

Deterrents are useful. The vast majority of us know that tons of heroin are not good for any country. If drug trafficking was only a CEO decision....then it would become a NASDAQ type traded commodity. Heroin and other trafficked items and substances mean death. Who here is for that?