Thailand asks Myanmar to help arrest key drug suspects

BANGKOK, November 5 (TNA) - Thailand has informed Myanmar of 10 wanted key drug suspects and sought the neighboring country's cooperation to help arrest them, including a wellknown kingpin, Lieutenant Colonel Yi Se. Permpong Chavalit, Secretary-General of Thailand's Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), told journalists on Wednesday that the 10 wanted key drug traders were known to have been hiding in Myanmar. Permpong said that the request followed a visit to Myanmar by new Thai Justice Minister General Paiboon Khoomchaya on October 31, when he held talks with Myanmar authorities concerned. The ONCB chief acknowledged, however, that the Myanmar government has problems in hunting for the wanted drug suspects in areas under the control of the country's ethnic groups. The ONCB chief stated, meanwhile, that Thailand agreed with Myanmar's request to expand development projects in dozens border villages in Myanmar, implemented by the Mae Fah Luang Foundation in the northern Thai Chiang Rai Province and funded by a Thai government budget of about 300 million baht, aimed to reduce narcotic production and improve the life of locals. According to the ONCB chief, the Thai justice minister told the Myanmar authorities to select locations for the expanding border development projects in the Myanmar side. (TNA)