Myanmar boy, 7, used as drug mule: Thai police

BANGKOK, November 23, 2013 (AFP) - Thai police found a seven-year-old boy from Myanmar crying alone at a bus stop with almost 10,000 methamphetamine pills in his backpack in western Thailand, officers said Saturday.

The child was discovered on Thursday evening in the Thong Pha Phum district of Kanchanaburi province near the border with Myanmar, local police said.

"Officers approached him and asked him questions, but he could not speak Thai," district police chief Colonel Amnuay Pongsawat told AFP.

He said the drugs were found in about 50 plastic bags wedged into two baby powder bottles.

"It is the first time that we have seen drug trafficking gangs use a child as a courier," Amnuay said.

He said he believed the boy had been dropped off by an uncle.

The United Nations sounded the alarm this month over record seizures of methamphetamine in parts of Asia.

In its pill form -- known in Thailand as "yaba", which means "crazy medicine" -- the narcotic is used both as a party drug and pick-me-up for low paid workers with long hours.

Thai authorities netted 95.3 million pills last year -- a 93 percent increase on 2011 -- and most of the supply was thought to have been produced in Myanmar.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-11-23

That is REALLY low.....piano wire, suspension "loong" and soft appendages spring to mind...

I wonder what is going to happen to the boy?

10,000 pills. 2 baby powder containers. The Thai police would never give in to exaggeration, would they? Or could 1,000 be "almost" 10,000?

And do you know how big those containers were Lobo? I have full sympathy for the poor little boy used in that way - and yep I agree with the piano wire comment Rob- I was actually thinking rusty razor blades -but both work for me

10,000 pills. 2 baby powder containers. The Thai police would never give in to exaggeration, would they? Or could 1,000 be "almost" 10,000?

I was thinking exactly the same thing as I read it!!

I wonder what is going to happen to the boy?

I'd like to think that he'd be properly cared for by someone responsible, the poor wee mite.

I really would like to think that......

how many more get by?

10,000 pills. 2 baby powder containers. The Thai police would never give in to exaggeration, would they? Or could 1,000 be "almost" 10,000?

The BIB can only count 100 baht bills, anything more, they're at a lost.

Oh you folk are amazing. This story isn't about the police, and your feelings and thoughts of them, it's about this poor little innocent child being used as a drug mule. Have some compassion!!

I wonder what is going to happen to the boy?

I'd like to think that he'd be properly cared for by someone responsible, the poor wee mite.

I really would like to think that......

With this legal system who knows.

I am surprised we don't have sergeant somchai pointing a finger at a toddler.

Oh you folk are amazing. This story isn't about the police, and your feelings and thoughts of them, it's about this poor little innocent child being used as a drug mule. Have some compassion!!

What would compassion change? I imagine that the "folk" referenced are just as shocked and concerned for the little boy - some of us cry - some make a joke and try to laugh - just different ways to handle circumstances over which we have no control. And be careful about who you call a folk - some of these old folkers might take offense. Regardless, being critical of people with a different view is not a remedy.

Hate to say it, but hardly new. I can recall instances of drug carrying under the baby in the pram, even in the nappy.

How much lower can a person stoop than to use a young boy or worse a baby to get their drugs through.The filthy bastards.

Scum lower than a worms belly using kids for hauling drugs hope uncle gets caught and strung up.

An inflammatory post has been removed. This topic, by the way, is about a 7 year old boy being used as a drug mule.

I want to post an inflammatory post about the b@stards that used this kid.

In fact I'd love to have them inflamed!

I feel truly sorry for the child. I sincerely hope they simply return the kids to his family in Myanmar and get hold of the real culprit.

10,000 pills. 2 baby powder containers. The Thai police would never give in to exaggeration, would they? Or could 1,000 be "almost" 10,000?

The BIB can only count 100 baht bills, anything more, they're at a lost.

Did you really think they count them one by one??? They weigh one and then all and divide the total weight by the weight of one and then they have a number. So let's say it was 9900 and then you've got almost 10000! Also, baby powder containers come in some formidable sizes.

Oh you folk are amazing. This story isn't about the police, and your feelings and thoughts of them, it's about this poor little innocent child being used as a drug mule. Have some compassion!!

What would compassion change? I imagine that the "folk" referenced are just as shocked and concerned for the little boy - some of us cry - some make a joke and try to laugh - just different ways to handle circumstances over which we have no control. And be careful about who you call a folk - some of these old folkers might take offense. Regardless, being critical of people with a different view is not a remedy.

Compassion won't change the fact these kids are being used and abused. Nor does airing your feelings and thoughts about the police. Folk is a general term for people, perhaps I should have used the word 'people' instead. And I know people deal with things in different ways, seen too much in my life time to understand that comment. And I am fully aware that having a different view is not a remedy, that was not my intention. My intention was, as stated, this story is about the innocent child being used as a drug mule not about the police. Doubt the world will see a remedy for this abhorrent behaviour in the near future...sad but true...

I feel truly sorry for the child. I sincerely hope they simply return the kids to his family in Myanmar and get hold of the real culprit.

I am just hoping it was not his family who did this to him. Poor little bugger

Hate to say it, but hardly new. I can recall instances of drug carrying under the baby in the pram, even in the nappy.

Unfortunately true, and it doesn't just happen in Thailand....

Grabby animals.

But som nam na for them, cause something turned wrong, they don't want to give this idiot drug for police hands. <-- this the team ..

I feel truly sorry for the child. I sincerely hope they simply return the kids to his family in Myanmar and get hold of the real culprit.

Really? I hope not. The drugs smugglers had to either know the kids family or actually be the kids family. I don't see drug smugglers kidnapping a kid and have him cooperate to go to Thailand. Someone in the family had to talk the kid into going peacefully into Thailand. Obviously something in their plan fell apart, which I hope it happens every time. What I hope is the authorizes find this child someone good to stay.

Oh you folk are amazing. This story isn't about the police, and your feelings and thoughts of them, it's about this poor little innocent child being used as a drug mule. Have some compassion!!

What would compassion change? I imagine that the "folk" referenced are just as shocked and concerned for the little boy - some of us cry - some make a joke and try to laugh - just different ways to handle circumstances over which we have no control. And be careful about who you call a folk - some of these old folkers might take offense. Regardless, being critical of people with a different view is not a remedy.

Compassion won't change the fact these kids are being used and abused. Nor does airing your feelings and thoughts about the police. Folk is a general term for people, perhaps I should have used the word 'people' instead. And I know people deal with things in different ways, seen too much in my life time to understand that comment. And I am fully aware that having a different view is not a remedy, that was not my intention. My intention was, as stated, this story is about the innocent child being used as a drug mule not about the police. Doubt the world will see a remedy for this abhorrent behaviour in the near future...sad but true...

Nowhere on this post did I make any comments about police (even though others did); so I could add, ranting in the wrong direction, to my comment above. I read your post as being intolerant of other posts while using compassion as justification to be so; hence, as far I was concerned, that negated the plea for compassion and justified my rant. Time for...