DIS nabs two Yunnanese drug dealers

BAGNKOK, February 2 (TNA) - Thailand's Department of Special Investigation (DSI) announced Thursday that it has arrested two Yunnanese people suspected of having involved in illegal drug trade along the Thai-Myanmar border. DSI Deputy Director-General Police Colonel Yanapol Yanyuen said in a press conference that the Yunnanese couple, identified as Dawachai and Praniporn Poowichitthaworn, were apprehended red-handed on Wednesday at their house in Mae Sai District of Thailand's northernmost Chiang Rai Province while they were selling heroin, worth 400,000 baht, to an undercover police agent. Police Colonel Yanapol acknowledged that Thai authorities and suppression officials of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had collaborated on the mission, after the Thai and US authorities had monitored the suspected couple for almost two years. According to the DSI deputy chief, the arrested couple have been charged with possession of heroin with intent to sell, with their assets worth altogether 40 million baht, including white jade Buddha statutes, six land title deeds, two factory title deeds and two cars, having also been seized. The DSI deputy director-general said that an arrest warrant for the same charge has also been issued against another suspected man, identified as “K”, who delivered the heroin to the uncover police agent. (TNA)