News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 10, 2004

Heroin Arrests in Thailand

DEA Regional Director Bill Snipes, Narcotics Suppression Bureau General Watchaporl, Deputy Chief Inspector Gerard P. McAleer, Assistant Country Attache Michael L. Chapman, and Senior Inspector Richard Dearing.

Four heroin traffickers were arrested and 100 units of heroin (700 grams per unit) were seized in a combined Royal Thai Police (RTP) and Drug Enforcement Administration operation on January 10, 2004. The arrests and seizure followed a month-long investigation involving DEA's Chiang Mai Office. The arrests occurred near Burma, in the northern Thai province of Mae Hong Son after the RTP and DEA learned the time and location of the traffickers' planned delivery. Two other traffickers involved in the incident escaped arrest by fleeing to Burma. The heroin bore the "999" logo normally associated with the notorious Wa State Army and was packaged in plastic bags marked, "Made in Thailand." Violators arrested were: A-WEI Sae-Thoa, A-MING Sae-Wang, ASAPA Laoyipa and ABEPA Lao-Mi. Two of the violators arrested were from the hill tribe area of northern Thailand.

A half-unit of the heroin seized.