--------- Forwarded Message --------- DATE: Mon, 20 Nov 2000 09:41:49 From: policy.office(a)mihra.org (Roger Bunn) To: msdarkstar(a)mailcity.com (Claudia K. White) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^\| ||\____ Opium Express | ||',""|""""""\___, __ | ||__|'__|___|| [""(@)'(@)"""""""""""""""**|(@)(@) November 2000 No: 11 - 16 Drugs Heroin price tumbles but no thanks to junta Reporter: Maihoong S.H.A.N. sources reported this morning prices of heroin and opium have been dropping the last few months that owe nothing to Rangoon's rulers. The price of heroin in Mongton, opposite Chiangmai, has fallen to B. 220,000 per jin (1 jin = 700 gm) from B. 280,000 and 1 joy (1 joy = 3.6 kg) of opium is only K. 30,000 (B. 3,000) now, they said. One reason is that amphetamines, despite seizures and arrests, are still easier to hide than heroin. Another reason is that there has been a 'lull" in the foreign demand. Source, however, does not think the State Peace and Development Council has anything to do with the present development. "One argument is that there are at least 5 refineries around Mongton: Nakawngmu (Lahu), Namhukhun (Lahu), Hopang-Hoyawd (Wa), Huey Khailong (Chinese) and Mongkhid (Wa). Any one of the 4 battalions in Mongton: IB 65, IB 277, IB 225 and LIB 519 can wipe them out easily enough, but they are busy fighting the Shan State Army instead," said one. Another source agreed. "Junta officials are also busy aiding and abetting the drug operators", he said. He cited the latest news report he had received. On 15 November, two Chinese with family-names of Luo and Zhou came from Thailand to meet with Ja-he, a Lahu from Nawngpayen, Mongton Township, who took them to 'Hsaw Hsing', a Chinese from Nawng-ook (Ban Arunothai) Chiangdao District, Chiangmai Province) who had fled there from drug officials over a year ago. Hsaw Hsing in turn drove them to the IB 65 command post northeast of the town to show them the amphetamines produced by 'Li Hsien' at Huey Khailong, north west of Mongton, and stored at the battalion headquarters for security. According to the source, Luo and Zhou agreed to buy 400,000 pills at the price of B. 10 each. B. 1,500,000 was paid by the buyers as advance with a promise to settle the remainder on Thursday, 23 November. On 17 November, the two buyers with their "goods" were escorted by Bo Htun Shwe, company commander, IB 65, with 35-men to a border crossing point 3 miles east of BP (Border Pass) 1 in 4 trucks (3 from Mongton and 1 from Nawngpayen) he said. ///END\\\ For further information, please contact S.H.A.N. at: Shan Herald Agency for News. e-mail: <shan(a)cm.ksc.co.th> http://www.shanland.org S.H.A.N. is a non-profit, independent Shan media group. It is not affiliated to any political or armed organization. --------- End Forwarded Message --------- ============================= Claudia White~Main Line News Campaign International http://www.angelfire.com/ut/Angel1 Complet Web Read of Archives: http://www.egroups.com/messages/MainLineNews ============================= Angelfire for your free web-based e-mail. http://www.angelfire.com -------------------------- eGroups Sponsor -------------------------~-~> <FONT COLOR="#000099">eGroups eLerts It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free! </FONT><A HREF="http://click.egroups.com/1/9698/2/_/475667/_/974726136/"><B>Click Here!</B></A> ---------------------------------------------------------------------_->
