Chance clash misses drug haul

Chance clash misses drug haul

An improvised ambush staged by Shans on Sunday (21 October) fell short of capturing drugs heading for Thailand, said a source from the border this morning. 

The attack by Sergeant Kham and 7 fighters from the Shan State Army's 727th Brigade at 0830-0845 was launched between Mongharng and Maeken, about 40 miles from the Thai border. According to the source, 3 trucks were destroyed, 12 Burmese troops killed and another 5 wounded. The attackers retired after another 15 truckloads of Burmese soldiers arrived on the scene. 

"One of the vehicles was carrying two ethnic Chinese from Sinjai village, Chaiprakarn District, 120 km north of Chiangmai," said the source. "One was identified as Lao Wu. They had just purchased 150,000 yaba pills at the price of B.11 per pill and were traveling with LIB 328 (Mongkhark) to the border." 

They had bought the said drugs from Captain Han Sein, Commander, Company 2, IB 65 (Mongton). Han Sein is known as the main salesperson in the area. 

The Shan State Army's Information Department, however, said only 2 "enemy soldiers" were killed and 1 wounded.