FWD: Crocs, catfish seized in Thai war on drugs

[Guest guest]

***************************Advertisement***************************

eCentral - Your Entertainment Guide

http://www.star-ecentral.com

 

 

*****************************************************************

This message was forwarded to you by yitzeling.

 

Comment from sender:

 

 

This article is from The Star Online (http://thestar.com.my)

URL: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2003/8/20/asia/6094546 & sec=asia

 

________________________

 

Wednesday August 20, 2003

Crocs, catfish seized in Thai war on drugs

 

 

 

 

BANGKOK: Some 9,200 crocodiles and 100,000 catfish were among items seized by

the authorities during Thailand's war on drugs, officials said yesterday.

 

They said drug dealers had laundered illicit wealth through legitimate

businesses, including crocodile, ostrich and fish farms, jewellery shops,

luxurious mansions or expensive cars.

 

“We estimate to have seized 2.5bil baht (RM228mil) worth of assets, mainly from

drug dealers since the introduction of the law four years ago,” Peeraphan

Prempooti, head of the Anti-Money Laundering Office, said, referring to a 1999

money laundering law.Peeraphan's office held a reception to celebrate its fourth

anniversary yesterday at a luxurious Bangkok hotel showing off two of its 2,900

baby crocodiles due to be put up for auction.

 

 

 

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra launched a three-month anti-drug

crackdown in February in which 1,612 people died, prompting fierce criticism

from international rights groups.

 

 

 

By May 1, security forces had arrested 58,000 suspected drug traffickers and

dealers, and the government had sacked 1,300 civil servants suspected of

involvement with them. – Reuters

 

<p><a href= " http://www.nationmultimedia.com/ " target= " on_top " >For Another

perspective from The Nation, a partner of Asia News Network, click here</a><p>

<p>

 

________________________

Your one-stop information portal:

The Star Online

http://thestar.com.my

http://biz.thestar.com.my

http://classifieds.thestar.com.my

http://cards.thestar.com.my

http://search.thestar.com.my

http://star-motoring.com

http://star-space.com

http://star-jobs.com

http://star-ecentral.com

http://star-techcentral.com

 

1995-2003 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written

permission of Star Publications is prohibited.