Army-drug gang encounter in Golden Triangle
by Ko Wild
Friday, 27 February 2009 18:30
Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – There was exchange of gunfire on February 18 between Burmese Army troops and a drug trafficking gang operating in Meng Peng region, Shan State in the Golden Triangle.
The LIB 526 and 359 clashed with Sai Nau Kham-led remnants of the former Khun Sa’s MTA army.
“The clash occurred in Meng Peng region with the LIB 526 and 359 of the Burmese Army. Sai Nau Kham is still at large along with his 30 to 40-strong force,” theThai based ‘Shan Herald Agency of News’ (SHAN) Assistant Editor Sein Kyi told Mizzima.
Local military observers said that a shell hit a Chinese ship navigating the nearby Mekong River killing one Chinese sailor and injuring three.
Col. Sai Lau Seng, spokesman of the Shan Sate Army (South) said “We heard that a clash broke out between Sai Nau Kham led remnants of the MTA Army near Wan Pong village, upper Meng Peng in the Golden Triangle. We heard of it on February 22″.
Local observers said that Sai Nau Kham was into drug trafficking while living in Tachileik. He had close contacts with local authorities and was later arrested with a lot of narcotic drugs and arms. Later he escaped from custody.
The gang is now collecting extortion and protection money from drug traffickers in Meng Peng region in the Burmese side of the Golden Traingle area, the triangular border of Burma, Thailand and Laos. He recruited local villagers into his army.
The drug traffickers usually use Chinese ships plying on the Mekong River to transport their contraband from Wa and Meng La region in northern Burma. Sai Nau Kham and his army intercept these drug convoys and collect tax when they are tipped off on the movement of drug consignments. They fire on drug convoys when they refuse to pay them money as tax.
Thailand, Laos, China and Burma are jointly launching operations against drug trafficking in the golden triangle area.
Similarly Sai Nau Kham opened fire on a Chinese patrol boat navigating in Mekong River on 25 February last year killing three Chinese naval officers, SHAN news reported.
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