Hmong urge police to free drug suspects

Over 100 Hmong villagers in Chiang Rai yesterday gathered at the province’s Wiang Kaen district police station to call for the release of three suspected drug dealers they believe were mistakenly arrested.

The three individuals, Sompong SaeHue, Anurak Sae-Lao and Yong Sae-Lao, were suspected of smuggling over 9 million methamphetamine tablets and almost 800kg of crystal methamphetamine on April 1. The drugs are reportedly worth 1.7 billion baht.

Police were tipped-off prior to the arrest that a large quantity of drugs was going to be brought into Thailand by ship via the Mekong River, docking at Wiang Kaen’s Muang Yai sub-district.

The drugs were reportedly loaded on to a white Toyota pickup truck which set off along Huay Luek-Wiang Kaen road beside the Mekong River.

The suspects initially evaded police when they attempted to stop the vehicle, however, the truck was later found abandoned further along the road where authorities seized the drugs.

The three concerned suspects were arrested on April 3 for being in proximity to the scene of the crime, local police reports said.

Neighbours and relatives of the three suspects believe the men were falsely accused of the crime.

Police spoke to the villagers yesterday, reiterating that they do not target minority groups and that the arrests were made based on solid evidence. They said the suspects will have a chance to defend themselves in a court of law.

Meanwhile, Pol Maj Gen Panudej Boonruang, Deputy Commissioner of Provincial Region 5, said on April 4 that authorities had a list of names of individuals expected to attempt to smuggle drugs into the country during Songkran and police would be monitoring them closely over the holiday period.