Bangkok Post News (30/11/98)

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Bang Ron likely in Burma
Arrested aide face more charges

After a nine-hour interrogation yesterday, a senior narcotics police source
quoted Banjerd Theeravet, a key associate of Surachai "Bang Ron"
Ngernthongfu, as saying that the fugitive drug baron is believed to be
living in Burma.
Surachai supposedly crossed from Sangkla Buri district in Kanchanaburi to a
town in Burma with the help of his close aide. It is not known when he fled
over the border, said the source.
Banjerd, who was arrested on Saturday night after a one-month manhunt,
would have more charges filed against him, said Pol Lt-Gen Noppadol
Somboonsap, the police assistant commissioner-general, who has led the
interrogation.
So far investigators only pressed a conspiracy charge against Banjerd
following the arrest approved by the Office of Narcotics Control Board
(ONCB) secretary-general Phayon Pansri about a month ago.
However, he said, investigators had many clues from the interrogation that
can link hom to other charges which cannot be disclosed publicly until
investigators have secured evidence and witnesses.
"More charges will be pressed against him later," said Pol Lt-Gen Noppadol.
He added: " Banjerd yesterday gave a lot more useful and clearer
information. He cooperated with investigators. His statements were very
useful for investigators implicated with the Bang Ron drug gang."
Asked if Banjerd gave details on the operation of the gang, Pol Lt-Gen
Noppadol declined to comment directly but said that people implicated with
drug gang will be arrested soon.
The officer said police are also questioning him about whether he was the
man who bailed out Bang Ron when the drug trafficker was first arrested in
Kanchanaburi with 6,000 amphetamine tablets several months ago. 
Meanwhile, police commissioner general Pracha Promnok  said he instructed
investigators in charge of the case to make an attempt to root out every
one involvved in the drug gang and make every effort to find Bang Ron's
whereabouts.
Pol Gen Pracha said he was very  confident that there are many men in
uniform involved with the gang. Those arrested will receive the highest
punishment without leniency, he said.

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