CityNews – Police say they are seeking the extradition of an alleged drug dealer from Burma after raiding his house in Chiang Rai on Saturday and seizing assets valued at 5 million baht.
Officials raid Sarayut’s house in Chiang Rai. Photo: Natthawat Arm.
Sarayut Leelerttrakul is said to be a key figure in the yaba trade in northern Thailand. Police say he hired Hmong people to transfer the drugs to customers in Suphan Buri province, in deliveries of more than 100,000 pills each time.
His total assets are valued at around 100 million baht, police said, most of it land in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. He is said to own around 1,000 rai of land without ownership certificates – most of it in nature sanctuaries, national parks or areas where residents are allowed to plant crops but are not allowed to buy, sell or exchange land.
Police had earlier seized assets valued at 10 million baht from Sarayut. Chiang Mai Provincial Court has issued a warrant for his arrest, but police said he has escaped to Burma, although he often slips back across the border. Police say they want the Burmese government to send him back for prosecution.