THAI MILITARY ACTIONS AGAINST NARCOTICS TRAFFICKERS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85T00287R000600300001-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 20, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: March 23, 1983
• Content Type: MEMO

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en ra n e ige ce ency
MEMORANDUM: FOR:. Nirs._Judy,Rouse -
Office of Program Management
Bureau of International Narcotics Matters
Department of State -
Thai-Burma border.in-1982:.
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2. This memorandum was: prepared by Strategic ~~ 25X1
Narcotics Branch,:.International.Security Issues Division, Office
of Global Issues and was coordinated with the Directorate of`
Operations.
3. Comments- and-_ queries- are: welgome,and
the Chief., :Stra.tegic: Narcotics. B
Attachment:
ranch,.: OGL.
Thailand: Military Actions Against Narcotics
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ie , tra egic arcotics Branch, Tnternati~.nal.
Security Issues Division, Office of Global
Issues
SUBJECT: Thai Military Actions Aganst.Narcotics-
Traff ickers
1. The attached memgrandum,,Thailand: Military Actions
Against Narcotics Traffickers, reviews Thai military actions
against the SUA and other narcotics traffickers along the
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OGI/ISI D/NAR,~
Distribution:
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Addressee
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Ch/ISID
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Ch/ISID/NAR
8
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OGI/PS
(March 1983)
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c.enuai intenigence Rene}
D:~R~E`C~OR~E- OLD ::fNT E.L LLCEyCE
~3- Afiar~Ch-:19-83.
Thailand: Military Actions Against Narcotics Traffickers
Summary
Since January 1982,-Thai military aetians aimed at narcotics
traffickers along the Thai-Burma border have done much to disrupt
narcotics operations. The Thai actions against the narcotics
trafficking activities of the Shan United Arrrry FSUA) and. other
trafficking groups have inhibited the trafficking groups ability
to operate freely in the border area but have not permanently
affected the region's capability to supply Za.rge quanti-ties of
narcotics to regional and international markets. Despite Thai
antinareoties efforts, competing economic, political, and
.security-demands coupZed._witlt the resiliency of narcotics
traffickers keep prospects for controlling the=narcotics trade in
addressed to the Chief;--.Strategic `Naric;oties'_Br.~nc~~, ~QCL.;
Issues.. This analysis. is based. on information available as of 15 .
March- 1983_.:___Comments and queries ,care; welcome and- may be ~ 25X1
International Security Issues Division, 0 ice o o a
This memorandum ruse prepared by
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theGolden.--Tra:ngae~ is. produc'e~d:?-~ The--a?rea .is~ idea .ly. sui.ted. to .?
Narcotics Trafficking along the Thai-Burma Border
The rugged area along the Thai-Burma border is the center of
narcotics trafficking and heroin processing in Southeast Asia.
Various ethnically based insurgent and warlord groups move raw.
opium from-.grow-ing-areas in northern Burma to clandestine heroin
laboratories at the border where most of the heroin exported from
n arcot?rc's-= traff ft:3c~ng?
KKY..__ Some_.returned.-_to__the-...goyernmerit~.fo:],.d_:wh~~e.'c~the~s~~moved
warlord armies as-mobile .militias. Called Ka Kwei Yei (KKY),
they were-given pa tents.-by the central. government to engage in
smuggling in return fo`r~their commitment to~fight the Burmese
Communist-"nsurgen.ts _-.; I~n the.:-early'19.70s-:, .Rangoon. outlawed: the-
Chinese~~)=~:Army in northern~ Burma. ?-? After- the- war, -some- remained as
KMT units- fighting--the-.Chinese--Comma-n-fists-while: others. turned:-to
smuggling narcotics. .,In 1967, confronted with a Chinese backed
Burmese Communist Party.:. insurgency,. Rangoon.~deputized 50 of .-these
cu-ltivators :in~.Burma normally~~produce .500 to 600 tons of
opium annualYy; and Thailand produces some` 50 to 70 tons
per year. Much, of both crops is available for~expart.
A good transportation system through Thailand:facilitates
the transport of chemical supplies from well established
sources in Malaysia and easy access to-both regional. and
international markets for processed narcotics.
Opxrnr:-supplies-:?are?--readily-ava-lable.?--~ Hilltribe--
government attacks.
The rugged terrain along the
and- often provides sanctuary
border is difficult to police
f of traf f cke-rs aga i ns t
Both Burma and Thailand have far years ignored the border
area and were in large part responsible for the establishment of
the armies that subsequently turned.. to narcatics-trafficking in
the area. During the Sino-Japanese~War and World War II many of
these groups were mobili-zed into the Kuomintang .(Nationalist:
deeply in.tQ_.naroQtzc~_t~a_#~_i~k:i_n~~~:_.a thr__vi_ng ...ndustry as the war
-expanded. in Vietnam...: TIz"e Chinese Irreguhar` Forces- (CIF) and the -
Shan -United Army.. (,S.UA~. eme-rged--. as . tlae.:: major trafficking .gr.oups,
with operations- centered-~ i n Thai land:--- I?n:. 1975` the Burnra~ -Army
-dealt a serious blow: to the trafficking activities of the CIF. .
Subsequently the SUA emerged as the most important trafficking
organization along the border, and by T981, according to US
Embassy sources, it controlled 70 percent of the narcotics
processing and trafficking in the Golden Triangle. Operating out
of the fortified village of Ban Hin Taek, Thailand, the SUA also
had military bases in northern Chiang Rai Province--to protect
its largest refining complex in the Lao Lo Chai area--and in Mae
Hong Son Province. 0
2
ecrn~m
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Thai Military Actions _
The Thai government tole rated the operations of these
trafficking groups because they provided a buffer against
Communist encroachments. However, within the past few years,
publicity detailing the intent of SUA. trafficking. operations and
the-- loca-tio.n--of-: i.ts__.headgua.rte_rs:._: a.t_ .Ban. Hin Taek reflected.
negative-ly.-_ori~ thy-.gove:rnmeri-t'`s-__comTTrr.tmenf to narcotics control.
Cansegue.ntl:.y_ ,ixt J_anu?a~ry-~F9~82--the Tfa_zArmy-moved against :the--SUA
~._ .- --
headcluar.te_rs~at~Ban Hiri~ Tack in__ari ~~US~-isupported~ effort to drive -
..
~ zn the..,:-
ki
fi
f
ng
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the=S't'T1~out~,ot-Th-a?rraa'c~r"fib---na-rcotics=-
regon.
M'1'tar o erations against the Shan United ArTny (SUA)
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during the year were: _ ;,
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continued throughout 1982. After the attack against Ban Hin
Tack, the SUA fled into Burma but returned to Thailand within a
few weeks, building a new headquarters only some 4 to 5
kilometers away: from Ban Hin Taek. The rapidity- with which the
SUA attempted to reestablish itself inside Thailand apparently
convinced Thai authorities of the need to regain control of its
northern border. The Thai responded with a second military
action in May which dislodged the SUA from Thailand. Although
SUA families and dependents were allowed. to remain in Thailand.
continued Thai .Army .presence in the border area has kept the SUA
from infiltrating back across the border. Dther military- actions
'o --..;;~T,o,a mho cTTA farther into Burma. and inhibited .its
ability to operate freely in the l,oraer aLCa.
forced'-the SUA to relocate- to Doi Lang. when~special-.Thai~
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military---units when Taham-Prahan irregulars.-shutdown-_t e
~
. ~ - = : :_ ._ _ . :._
Lao--Lo- Chai":r.efinery--cornplex
interdicted long established routes for :narcotics an
. chemicals-r .destroyed _ a- number_.of_ ref iner.ies and forced:
st
t l
i
-'~
ea
..
ng a
d?rsrupt
other_refine_ries to:~close thus
..
temprY~-a-ri-~y-,~--narcot_ios--?p~-occt~ion - _.
cfiestroy.ed---ma-ja-r`- cfremida-I `storage -sites. inside Burma
~a..,.~z,~rr-r~~.--2osks: a~_~_~g0-:-kcg-o#--=aceti.c~ anhydride, the
-
r~.~......~~.,...~. v_._~_--------~
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destroyed- in one- ope-ra-tion_: was `roughly_ ' valent
-year'"s supply for -an---average- refinery.,:
With the SUA and narcotics refineries inside Burma, the Thai
government has redirected its efforts to other narcotics
traffickers in the border area who were forced out of Doi Lang
after the SUA takeover. For example, during a January 1983
military operation against the Muang Na area three traffickers
from the Third CIF, were captured, documenting CIF involvement in
narcotics. trafficking along the border. In the past the CIF had
been careful in masking its narcotics activities in order to
avoid the attention of the Thai government. .The CIF conducts
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most of its_ narcotics trading out of Chinese resettlement
villages in Thailand's~Piang Luang area.
Effects of Thai Actions
Thai. -military operations have.--pushed :the- SUA from Thailand
and:: Ftawe- dome- mtrclr- to--disrupt:- SUA traf f'.ick i ng -and re f i:ne ry
ope~ratia~ ~~. Ho~e~er;~.-,the-- f:Zow=-at: raw.-:-op-ium. to the Thai-Burrna-. ,
border: ref:i.iie~es~ ands--t.tie-~ f.lo~:. of:; ~esro:n out-~of.. the< borde~r:~:.axea.-~
has not..:..been:~.pe~rmanentl~r-: affected::_..--.. - -
Most.._:af_.: th.e.-_?,gh-tinge-,occurred_ away: from. key, PoPPy...9rowi-ng._
-- areas.. This milita-ry operations did not upset opium
production in 1982 and probably had little impact on the
1983 crop.
? Heroin refineries are mobile and rudimentary. Most of the.
ref:irieries closed down during military operations last
year reportedly relocated deeper inside Burma and are back
in~ operation..
of~ -refined : narcotics still= readily available in the..border:.
routes: :_ The-se .:groups__were:.:: able__.to;. drawdown large.:,stocks .:_._ -
traffickers, primarily the Chinese Irregular~Force, to
expand their operations..Alliances have -been formed
between the smaller trafficking groups and independents to
assure access to opium supplies and security of.smuggling.,_
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area..as-_weIl-as.-use-cu-Trent -narcotics production,..to meet -~ -
According.- to--US--Embassy reporting-,--enf.~orcementactivities
against---chemc:a:l:.suppli.ers~.i.in:~.B:arigkbk- and against..-major--
_ :.
receiv-i_ng:._pants=--a-Lang-_the--a~~d.er:erea ed: a shortage:=of
- shortage--~and:~, concomitant-rises _ in_.. chemical -prices- forced
chemcars,_at border._:ref-ine.r?l.e`.duri.ng e~a~l~ ~1E982:__ -.The
ch.em-i_cal _.f:r-om-.dealers in India as well as.
northern: Burmese cit
China are=-nova-read:ily_ aval~ak~le-,.n
for shipment to border refineries. - ~.
? Thai antinarcotics actions have disrupted long-established
smuggling routes through Thailand. However,. military
operations probably did not seriously upset the export, of
narcotics from the border .area in 1.982. The use of
alternative routes has kept opiates readily available
throughout Southeast Asia. During. the past year,
according to US Embassy sources, narcotics have bee n
increasingly routed through western Burma into Bangladesh
and India to satisfy local markets and for reshippment to
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the west. ': (cites the use'of Guangzhou 25X1
Province; China for shipping Southey t Asian heroin
destined for Hong Kong.
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and the destruction. of a heroin. refinery` by the Malaysian
police also `points to arise in narcotics activity. in the
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The military crackdown on the BUA has increased the .
i nvolvement..,.in narcot>ics.-.traf f ick-ing.- of. the; Burmese Communist ~ -- -_
Party (BCP} which,~could`:--prove- to- be a more formidable opponent .~ - - . -.
for.- both_ the-_-Thar-and:- the? Burmese. The- BCP has an estimated. ~ - .. ~-
Military .pressure .against heroin. refineries along the.
Thai-Burma:-border--:has:?apga?ren.tly. caused some?{-shift?~ in
Yer.ai-n processing. to_.labor-a-tories _along the_ South
Thailand/. M a lays i.a_~ ; bo r_de r:~_
shipments of--~narcot-res-by sea from.'..coves and
- o ~ 's? ore?'sfianels along~s tfie--Tfia~' and Burmese~=-peninsula. to _?
the~-Adaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand are increasing.
According to DEA sources, increased seizures of_,narcatics
Emerging Problems to Narcotics Control
armed_;atrength -of" IOFQ00 -to_ 12~;-a00- men-with.- a 30, OOO man - _- = , . .
militia.': The. BCP controls large areas. of Burma, particularly in --
the northeastern Shan State, a major center of opium poppy ~ :
cultivation. Narcotics trafficking by BCP elements prior to 197 8
appears to have been the?work of~individuals without. explicit "'
approval. by the party leadership. ~ However, in 1978 and 1979, the. .: ..
BCP appeared-to have.-:reso.rted- ta.-party-.-sponsored and centrally -? ?"=
drected??cultvation- and-- tradin in o ium--ncludin association
:. ~ --
wi th` the- SUA~ Dur~i ng_-1`98 2; : the BCP"'~ ._, .25X1
moved di~ect:Iy -in.to_:.=heroin process.ng:~and trafficking as
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chemicals .became- ava-=lab-Ie -throngh_Cfi.na_and:-:India.
Another. proh-ler~r`; threatening narcotics control in the?-~f:uture-
into: T-ha:~land=- at-_ almast=:- any pa