Fierce gunfight in Chiang Mai's Mae Ai district

[webfact]

Fierce gunfight
The Nation



CHIANG MAI: -- Para-military rangers clashed with a drug-smuggling caravan in Chiang Mai's Mae Ai district early yesterday morning and seized about eight million yaba pills reportedly worth Bt2 billion on the streets. A drug suspect was killed.

The three-hour gunfight erupted at about 3am in tambon Ban Luang when the rangers intercepted the 20-strong gang.

Separately, police conducted a pre-dawn raid at Ban Huai San Moo 10 in tambon Tha Ton yesterday, the area where alleged drug kingpin Laota Saenlee's house is located.

Police seized 10 guns, including an M16 machine gun and a shotgun, and a large number of ammunitions.

Police also arrested two suspects and also seized 346 yaba pills and a pick-up truck.

Meanwhile, Lampang police arrested four drug suspects and seized some 200,000 yaba pills in Mae Prik district yesterday morning. The suspects reportedly told police that they were hired for Bt500,000 to transport the drugs from Chiang Rai to Tak.

In related news, Office of Narcotics Control Board secretary-general General Pongsapat Pongcharoen announced the arrests of construction contractor Somwong Boontip, 32, and his Myanmar employee, Ko Sut Tan, 25, and the seizure of some 52,000 yaba pills at an apartment in Nonthaburi's Muang district on Wednesday.

Somwong allegedly confessed that he was hired to store the drugs for Bt100,000 a time and this was the second time he did it.

At the apartment, police also discovered a bank account book allegedly linked to drug suspect Manee Khampeera, who was arrested and had about Bt200 million in assets seized on June 8.

-- The Nation 2014-06-13

[Albertosez]

Good result and good reason to re-consider bringing the curfew back to areas where there are problems. I'm sure Pattaya is back on the radar for early nights again !

[alfalfa19]

Hats off to these guys, they appear to be quite serious about busting these characters. The fact that 8 million pills were seized indicates to me that the ring has enough money to pay off the officials, but either it's not being accepted or not working.

[monty1412]

amazing how the police seemingly step up to the plate when they have the army glaring down their backs... I like what Im seeing from this army regime .

[hyperdimension]

I hope the seized drugs are tested to ensure that they don't contain impurities that may be more dangerous than the active ingredients before putting them back into the market.

[rickirs]

Great efforts by the police/para-military forces.

But the police/para-military forces ambush (choosing time and place) a four-person drug caravan, engage in a three-hour gun battle, and one suspect killed. None of the remaining suspects appear to be wounded. Somebody needs more target practice.

[Thaddeus]

No comments about how this method is preferable over a previous War on Drugs.

[ggt]

This shoot out...is the stuff movies are made of...this truly is Amazing Thailand...

[razer]

Ouch ... this is going to hurt some of the big boys under investigation

[Doc Blake]

All this does is jack-up the price which encourages more traffic and more violence, like a dog chasing its tail! Common sense control of controlled substances is what is called for..

Doc Blake

Edited June 13, 2014 by Doc Blake

[eastcanje]

The army certainly seems to have the good of the country at heart, and seem to be doing all the right things.

[hobz]

War on drugs does not work. Its just expensive. The people busted will be replaced. The drugs will be replaced. Demand for drugs stay the same.

Harm reduction is where it's at.

[belg]

just check every car/truck/boat comming for drugs, weapons and RICE

[lostmebike]

 

I hope the seized drugs are tested to ensure that they don't contain impurities that may be more dangerous than the active ingredients before putting them back into the market.

 

What are you insinuating sir? 'before putting them back into the market'

[Doc Blake]

War on drugs does not work. Its just expensive. The people busted will be replaced. The drugs will be replaced. Demand for drugs stay the same.

Harm reduction is where it's at.

We have zero control of "harm reduction" until we control the source, quality, and who is selling it, and establish laws to control it! Right now anyone, any age just needs the bucks and it is available. Legalization with law enforcement control, rehabilitation and education is not the perfect answer but it is a far better than what we have.

Since about 2006, over 60,000 Mexican men, women and children have given up their lives to stop drugs from reaching addicts in the USA??? How many have died here in Asia as part of the same waste of lives and time?

Doc Blake

Drug liberalization - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_liberalization

Wikipedia, Spain and Italy have since followed Portugal's example. .....Most of South America has gone to partial or full legalization and Canada has legalized Marijuana. In the late 2000s advocacy for drug legalization has increased in the United States.

Edited June 13, 2014 by Doc Blake

[thumper101]

The rounding up of all known drug runners and the net is closing in... I wonder how long it is going to be before they nab someone willing to tell us how they were able to do this before the Junta.... Name names.... the police top brass.

Edited June 13, 2014 by thumper101

[CMNightRider]

War on drugs does not work. Its just expensive. The people busted will be replaced. The drugs will be replaced. Demand for drugs stay the same.

Harm reduction is where it's at.

We have zero control of "harm reduction" until we control the source, quality, and who is selling it, and establish laws to control it! Right now anyone, any age just needs the bucks and it is available. Legalization with law enforcement control, rehabilitation and education is not the perfect answer but it is a far better than what we have.

Since about 2006, over 60,000 Mexican men, women and children have given up their lives to stop drugs from reaching addicts in the USA??? How many have died here in Asia as part of the same waste of lives and time?

Doc Blake

Drug liberalization - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_liberalization

Wikipedia, Spain and Italy have since followed Portugal's example. .....Most of South America has gone to partial or full legalization and Canada has legalized Marijuana. In the late 2000s advocacy for drug legalization has increased in the United States.

Do you advocate legalizing methamphetamine???? Intercepting eight million yaba (methamphetamine) pills is hardly "a waste of time."

[Doc Blake]

War on drugs does not work. Its just expensive. The people busted will be replaced. The drugs will be replaced. Demand for drugs stay the same.

Harm reduction is where it's at.

We have zero control of "harm reduction" until we control the source, quality, and who is selling it, and establish laws to control it! Right now anyone, any age just needs the bucks and it is available. Legalization with law enforcement control, rehabilitation and education is not the perfect answer but it is a far better than what we have.

Since about 2006, over 60,000 Mexican men, women and children have given up their lives to stop drugs from reaching addicts in the USA??? How many have died here in Asia as part of the same waste of lives and time?

Doc Blake

Drug liberalization - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_liberalization

Wikipedia, Spain and Italy have since followed Portugal's example. .....Most of South America has gone to partial or full legalization and Canada has legalized Marijuana. In the late 2000s advocacy for drug legalization has increased in the United States.

Do you advocate legalizing methamphetamine???? Intercepting eight million yaba (methamphetamine) pills is hardly "a waste of time."

So what if someone uses those drugs, since they are going to use them anyway? That bust did not turn off the tap, it just adjusted the price of the drugs up a fraction, big deal!

The more you see the price of drugs go up the more you are going to see average people who see those big dollar signs go into the business. And truth be known, most of the busted are competing with some dealer who probably turned them over.

I personally don't give a dam if someone wants to get high or drunk, why should you? That is their business, as long as they don't break any other laws, like driving under the influence, leave them alone!

What are you afraid of, if you see one staggering down the street call a policeman!

A government playing Miss Nanny by interfering with the personal decisions of adults is wasting manpower and dollars, putting their nose where it does not belong.

And the cost to keep a user or seller in prison is more then it costs to put a couple of kids through college. When they finish the user goes back to using, while the two graduates benefit their country.

Plus the government benefits by collecting more taxes, keeping a lot less people in prison, and wasting money on the enforcement of an unproductive law. That as I said, "has no victim," but creates victims by this stupidity.

[Mudcrab]

War on drugs does not work. Its just expensive. The people busted will be replaced. The drugs will be replaced. Demand for drugs stay the same.

Harm reduction is where it's at.

We have zero control of "harm reduction" until we control the source, quality, and who is selling it, and establish laws to control it! Right now anyone, any age just needs the bucks and it is available. Legalization with law enforcement control, rehabilitation and education is not the perfect answer but it is a far better than what we have.

Since about 2006, over 60,000 Mexican men, women and children have given up their lives to stop drugs from reaching addicts in the USA??? How many have died here in Asia as part of the same waste of lives and time?

Doc Blake

Drug liberalization - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_liberalization

Wikipedia, Spain and Italy have since followed Portugal's example. .....Most of South America has gone to partial or full legalization and Canada has legalized Marijuana. In the late 2000s advocacy for drug legalization has increased in the United States.

Do you advocate legalizing methamphetamine???? Intercepting eight million yaba (methamphetamine) pills is hardly "a waste of time."

So what if someone uses those drugs, since they are going to use them anyway? That bust did not turn off the tap, it just adjusted the price of the drugs up a fraction, big deal!

The more you see the price of drugs go up the more you are going to see average people who see those big dollar signs go into the business. And truth be known, most of the busted are competing with some dealer who probably turned them over.

I personally don't give a dam if someone wants to get high or drunk, why should you? That is their business, as long as they don't break any other laws, like driving under the influence, leave them alone!

What are you afraid of, if you see one staggering down the street call a policeman!

A government playing Miss Nanny by interfering with the personal decisions of adults is wasting manpower and dollars, putting their nose where it does not belong.

And the cost to keep a user or seller in prison is more then it costs to put a couple of kids through college. When they finish the user goes back to using, while the two graduates benefit their country.

Plus the government benefits by collecting more taxes, keeping a lot less people in prison, and wasting money on the enforcement of an unproductive law. That as I said, "has no victim," but creates victims by this stupidity.

Agree to a certain extent - allowing a competent adult to consume the product of their choice. But how do you rationalise the collateral damage to the beaten up wives and neglected children due to , say , the husbands drug abuse. A man in Oz today received 32 years without parole for beating a baby to death while on ice. By Oz standards that is a very, very heavy sentence. Murder usually gets 15-20...out in 10.

[fakename]

^{I agree with Doc Blake, give everyone all the drugs they want, and maybe a gun also, we sure dont want a Nanny State!}

[CMNightRider]

War on drugs does not work. Its just expensive. The people busted will be replaced. The drugs will be replaced. Demand for drugs stay the same.

Harm reduction is where it's at.

We have zero control of "harm reduction" until we control the source, quality, and who is selling it, and establish laws to control it! Right now anyone, any age just needs the bucks and it is available. Legalization with law enforcement control, rehabilitation and education is not the perfect answer but it is a far better than what we have.

Since about 2006, over 60,000 Mexican men, women and children have given up their lives to stop drugs from reaching addicts in the USA??? How many have died here in Asia as part of the same waste of lives and time?

Doc Blake

Drug liberalization - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_liberalization

Wikipedia, Spain and Italy have since followed Portugal's example. .....Most of South America has gone to partial or full legalization and Canada has legalized Marijuana. In the late 2000s advocacy for drug legalization has increased in the United States.

Do you advocate legalizing methamphetamine???? Intercepting eight million yaba (methamphetamine) pills is hardly "a waste of time."

So what if someone uses those drugs, since they are going to use them anyway? That bust did not turn off the tap, it just adjusted the price of the drugs up a fraction, big deal!

The more you see the price of drugs go up the more you are going to see average people who see those big dollar signs go into the business. And truth be known, most of the busted are competing with some dealer who probably turned them over.

I personally don't give a dam if someone wants to get high or drunk, why should you? That is their business, as long as they don't break any other laws, like driving under the influence, leave them alone!

What are you afraid of, if you see one staggering down the street call a policeman!

A government playing Miss Nanny by interfering with the personal decisions of adults is wasting manpower and dollars, putting their nose where it does not belong.

And the cost to keep a user or seller in prison is more then it costs to put a couple of kids through college. When they finish the user goes back to using, while the two graduates benefit their country.

Plus the government benefits by collecting more taxes, keeping a lot less people in prison, and wasting money on the enforcement of an unproductive law. That as I said, "has no victim," but creates victims by this stupidity.

Methamphetamine is a clandestine manufactured drug. There are probably over 100 recipes. It doesn't make any difference which recipe is used. All of the ingredients are toxic and devastating to the health and well being of anyone stupid enough to ingest it. For every pound of meth that is produced, about five to seven pounds of toxic waste is left behind. Personally, I think anyone caught manufacturing meth should be put to sleep and used as fertilizer, lol.

This is not a victimless crime. The manufactures of meth destroys our environment and the lives of the users. I think it boils down to common sense. Why on earth would anyone in their right mind be opposed to law enforcement trying to eradicate this threat?

[Torrens54]

Very good result. No doubt brought about at least in part, by the Military overseeing Police Operations.

A Better result of course would have been if the whole rotten mob of Drug Lords/Ladies had been wiped out, but then again, maybe those who survived will be "encouraged" to tell who THEIR Bosses are.

[squarethecircle]

" Why on earth would anyone in their right mind be opposed to law enforcement trying to eradicate this threat?"

The problem is that outright prohibition means organized crime runs the show (to a great profit) and is largely funded itself by petty crime (such as yabba addicts snatching purses). Switzerland has had success with government sponsored heroin administration, where users are given "maintenance doses", just enough to keep the body out of withdrawal.

This has 2 major advantages to a purely LE approach: (1) it eliminates the black market and associated theft (2) it treats the abuse as a health matter - this has been shown to work in Europe, better than the US model (which Thailand seems to follow) to be sure.

[CMNightRider]

" Why on earth would anyone in their right mind be opposed to law enforcement trying to eradicate this threat?"

The problem is that outright prohibition means organized crime runs the show (to a great profit) and is largely funded itself by petty crime (such as yabba addicts snatching purses). Switzerland has had success with government sponsored heroin administration, where users are given "maintenance doses", just enough to keep the body out of withdrawal.

This has 2 major advantages to a purely LE approach: (1) it eliminates the black market and associated theft (2) it treats the abuse as a health matter - this has been shown to work in Europe, better than the US model (which Thailand seems to follow) to be sure.

I'm not aware of any country that manufactures methamphetamine to give to their citizens. Meth is not the same as heroin.

[opalred]

i dont belive in the drug industry but i believe in justice till proven guilty years ago i was travelling to mai sai for visa when taksin was in power told police shot all drug dealers ask questions after near mae ai was stopped by a lot of police on roadi looked to see of road running through rice paddys 3 boys not armed but were shot is that justified

[eastcanje]

i dont belive in the drug industry but i believe in justice till proven guilty years ago i was travelling to mai sai for visa when taksin was in power told police shot all drug dealers ask questions after near mae ai was stopped by a lot of police on roadi looked to see of road running through rice paddys 3 boys not armed but were shot is that justified

I would hope that most people would believe that someone is innocent until proven guilty, and while the police shooting unarmed persons is certainly not right, unfortunately, this is by no means confined to Thailand.

In the U.S., it happens quite often, especially in some jurisdictions. I was in the U.K. late last year, and there were protests over the police shooting someone who was unarmed. In other parts of the world, it is endemic!

[philw]

i dont belive in the drug industry but i believe in justice till proven guilty years ago i was travelling to mai sai for visa when taksin was in power told police shot all drug dealers ask questions after near mae ai was stopped by a lot of police on roadi looked to see of road running through rice paddys 3 boys not armed but were shot is that justified

Just wondering why I don't believe you.....................

[opalred]

up to you maybe words wrong 3young burma men in that time how many innocent people killed 1000 maybe 5000 some one should be on trail crimes against humanity? open eyes

[philw]

up to you maybe words wrong 3young burma men in that time how many innocent people killed 1000 maybe 5000 some one should be on trail crimes against humanity? open eyes

Absolutely agree.

Politely suggest you do a bit more research into who killed who and why, since the 60's in Northern Thailand.

There is a lot more to this than Thaksin.........

Do some homework or research, investigate events of the 60'2, 70's and 80's, if it is still legal to do so.

Publishing your findings will certainly not be but all the info is out there for you to find and learn from.