Bangkok, life imprisonment for Laotian drug lord 'Mr. X'

He was the head of a smuggling network that produced the drug in the "Golden Triangle", where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet. The Laotian route to the south is increasingly used by traffickers trying to reach Thailand, Malaysia and even Australia and Japan, where profits soar.

Bangkok (AsiaNews / Agencies) - A court in Bangkok sentenced an important Laotian drug lord named "Mr. X " to life in prison, as Thai authorities try to eradicate the thriving methamphetamine traffic across national borders.

In January of last year, the Bangkok security forces at the capital's airport captured Xaysana Keopimpha (photo). Before his arrest the 43-year-old defiantly vaunted his social connections with celebrities and his passion for sport cars.

He was accused of being the head of an international organization committed to smuggling tons of tablets produced in Myanmar, transported through Laos and illegally introduced into Thailand and Malaysia.

These are two leading markets for the famous methamphetamine tablets, known as "yaba" (mad medicine), sold for around US $ 10 each. The Laotian route to the south is increasingly used by the gangs of traffickers trying to reach Thailand, Malaysia and even Australia and Japan, where the cost of drugs soar.

The court in Bangkok had sentenced Xaysana to the death penalty, and then reduced the sentence to life imprisonment after the defendant pleaded guilty to various crimes related to drug trafficking.

Xaysana was head of a smuggling network that produced the drug in the "Golden Triangle" – the border region where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet - and used the Nong Khai border crossing between Thailand and Laos, to move drugs South.

• thailand
• laos
• drug
• traffic
• narcotics
• mr x
• methamphetamine
• contraband
• tablets