Thai Police Seize 2.3 Mln Dollars Worth of Asset of Fugitive Drug Lord

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, December 27, 2001

Thai Police Seize 2.3 Mln Dollars Worth of Asset of Fugitive Drug Lord

Thai policemen seized more than 100 million baht (2.3 million U.S. dollars) worth of assets in its raid on nine locations thought to be linked to drug warlord Wei Xieu-Kang in three big cities, the Bangkok Post reported Thursday.

Interior Minister Purachai Piumsombun was quoted as saying that the assets impounded in Bangkok included three luxury houses worth more than 50 million baht (1.1 million dollars), jewelry, several land deeds, 15 million baht (300,000 dollars) in 90 bank accounts,500,000 baht (11,000 dollars) in cash and 12 safes.

In Chiang Rai, 780 kilometers north from Bangkok, six vehicles,10 land deeds and valuables including gold and diamond necklaces, bracelets and rings were taken; while in Chiang Mai, the second biggest city of Thailand, authorities also took seven bank accounts, three cars and several computers from a computer shop run by a man believed to be a son of Wei.

The effort was the result of a 10-year investigation into a complex money-laundering network run by Wei, his friends and relatives, Purachai said, stressing the assets seized in raid were all held by Wei's relatives and mistresses, whom authority said had enough evidence to charge with laundering drug money. Wei, 55, an ethnic Chinese, is widely known as the commander of the United Wa State Army's southern military command.

He was granted Thai citizenship, which was revoked a few months ago, and changed his name to Prasit or Charnchai Cheewin-nitipanya. In 1994, Wei was sentenced to life imprisonment, but then He was granted bail during his appeal and fled to Myanmar. Authorities believe Wei is now a drugs boss on the Thai-Myanmar border. He is also wanted by the United States, which offered 2 million dollars as a reward for his arrest, for allegedly trying to send 600 kilograms of heroin to the United States in 1987.

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