Thailand Arrests Drug Suspect Sought by U.S.
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BANGKOK, Thailand — Thai police said Wednesday that they have arrested a suspected drug trafficker sought by the U.S. government, which charges that he was the accountant for what used to be the world’s largest heroin smuggling syndicate.
Yang Wan-Hsuan, for whom the U.S. government has offered a $2-million reward, was arrested Tuesday night in Chiang Mai, 360 miles north of Bangkok, the capital, Thai narcotics police told a news conference.
Police Gen. Pornsak Durongphibul told reporters that Yang is wanted in Thailand for illegally entering the country and on suspicion of smuggling in heroin and amphetamines. He will be handed over to the U.S. only after the Thai investigations are over, Pornsak said.
Yang was indicted in 1994 in a New York federal court for attempted conspiracy to import heroin into the U.S. and distribution of heroin. According to the State Department, he was the accountant for the heroin smuggling syndicate known as the Shan United Army. The State Department said his nationality is Chinese.
Yang’s arrest was part of a joint Thai-U.S. operation launched in 1994 that targets top members of the syndicate.
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