Shan attack fails to net drugs

Shan attack fails to net drugs

A recent ambush staged by the Shan State Army fell short of capturing drugs though it managed to kill 4 security guards, reported a S.H.A.N. reporter from the border yesterday.

The ambush that took place east of Namyoom, 5 km north of BP-1 (Border Pass-1), opposite Chiangdao District, Chiangmai Province, between 06:30 - 06:45 on 6 August killed 4 militiamen who were escorting a quantity of speed (methamphetamine) pills to the Thai border. The 15-men attackers, led by Second Lieutenant Yawdkham from Headquarters Security Force, also captured 2 automatic rifles: 1 M-16 with 24-rounds of cartridges and 1 AK-47 with 36 rounds of catridges. One Shan fighter was slightly wounded in the arm.

The rest of the 28-Lahu militiamen however escaped with their "goods", said the source. It was later learned that there were 340,000 pills of methamphetamine with them to be delivered to an ethnic Chinese buyer in Thailand. They were purchased from Nakawngmu, 25 miles further north.

"One of us was nervous and pulled the trigger before the drug smugglers got inside the killing zone," explained one of the fighters to the S.H.A.N..

The drugs were purchased at B. 11 per pill from the Nakawngmu militia force.