Reuters-Ex-Druglord Khun Sa Back In

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Subject: Reuters-Ex-Druglord Khun Sa Back In Business - Thailand

Thursday July 22 5:45 AM ET

Ex-Druglord Khun Sa Back In Business - Thailand
CHIANG MAI, Thailand (Reuters) - Khun Sa, the Golden Triangle drug baron who
retired after surrendering to Myanmar authorities four years ago, is back in
business, Thai narcotics officials said Thursday.

There were signs the former commander of the separatist Mong Tai Army (MTA)
in Myanmar's northeastern Shan state has become involved again with his son
in the opium-growing Golden Triangle, they told reporters.

The Golden Triangle straddles the borders of Myanmar, Thailand and Laos.

``His son, Charm Herng is now playing an active role in drug trafficking.
There are signs Khun Sa is also getting involved,'' said Pinyo Chaithong,
the head of Thailand's Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) based in
northern Chiang Mai.

``A few years ago we believed he had washed his hands of drugs but lately
there are signs that he is returning,'' Methee Wongpradit, Pinyo's deputy
told reporters.

Charm Herng, 30, a graduate of an American college, was shuttling between Ho
Mong -- Khun Sa's former stronghold in Shan state about 12 miles from the
Thai border -- and Tachilek, an eastern Myanmar border town, Methee said.

The half-Shan, half-Chinese Khun Sa, wanted by the United States on drug
trafficking charges, was widely reported in 1995 to have given up the drug
trade after his surrender.

He now lives in Yangon under the protection of the Myanmar military
government, which says he is not involved with drugs.

When Khun Sa surrendered, another Shan state rebel group called the United
Wa State Army took over his drugs trade. Narcotics experts say the UWSA is
heavily involved in drug trafficking despite having reached a truce with
Yangon.

But Thai officials said remnants of Khun Sa's now disbanded MTA had become
active again in drug producing and trafficking.

``Drug production by former Khun Sa guerrillas is increasing. His son is
seen playing an active role in that business,'' said a Thai army colonel
based at the border with Myanmar. ``There are signs and information that
Khun Sa is getting involved.''

Pinyo said reports that Khun Sa was seriously ill and partly paralyzed were
untrue. ``We have learnt that he is healthy and living in luxury in

Myanmar.''

Thailand's ONCB said the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency had estimated Myanmar
would produce 2,500 to 2,800 tons of opium this year. The United Nations put
Myanmar's 1998 opium output at 1,700 tons.

``While the amount of heroin produced remains at about the same level, Yaba
(amphetamines) production is increasing at an alarming rate,'' Pinyo said.

Myanmar is one of the world's main sources of heroin. Its government says it
lacks the money and resources and to wipe out the drug trade in remote areas
of the country.

Pinyo estimated up to 300 million amphetamine tablets were produced annually
from the UWSA and the ex-MTA-controlled areas.

``The heroin (trafficking) routes have changed from Thailand to China, Laos,
Vietnam and even Cambodia. But Yaba comes directly to Thailand, which we
regard as the real threat to our national security,'' he said.

Thailand is concerned at a marked rise in amphetamine use among its youth.