Lao police have arrested fugitive drug kingpin Sisouk Dauheuang, an associate of Xaysana “Mr. X “ Keophimpha who had been on the run since Xaysana’s capture in January, security sources told RFA’s Lao Service on Sunday.
Sisouk was caught by police in Luang Prabang province on Saturday, and was taken to the capital Vientiane for investigation, the sources said.
“They arrested [Sisouk] in Luang Prabang province the day before yesterday. The police need to investigate him first. Details are not clear yet; They are investigating,” a senior official from the Lao Ministry of Public Security told RFA. The official spoke on condition of anonymity.
Thai police major general Pornchai Charoenwongse, deputy chief of the Narcotic Suppression Bureau, told RFA on Sunday that officials would meet on Monday to prepare a “directive to travel to Vientiane to investigate him [Sisouk].”
Sisouk, who had been wanted since Xaysana was arrested I January had sold used and luxury cars, and operated a horse-riding business in Vientiane. The businesses have been closed.
Sisouk is suspected to be part of a major methamphetamines distribution network in Southeast Asia operated by 42-year-old Lao national Xaysana, who was arrested on Jan. 19 in Thailand.
Xaysana, 42, was arrested on Jan. 19 at Thailand’s Suvarnabhumi Airport after arriving from Phuket after a five-year long investigation by Thai and Lao authorities.
Authorities say Xaysana was supplying caffeine-laced meth tablets known as "yaba" produced in Myanmar throughout the region.
Known as Mr. X, Xaysana led a lavish lifestyle that included contacts with high-society figures in the region, a fleet of exotic cars and at least five houses.
On February 15, Lao police had a press conference to inform the media of arrests of 33 drugs dealers after they operated suppression of drugs traffickers from September 2016 to January 2017.
On Jan. 10, police arrested 50-year- Khonpasong Soukkaseum, also known as Xiengther, along with three of his associates, Thonglek Mangnormek, director of the General Department of Police under the Ministry of Public Security, told that press conference. He called “a major drug trader” on a scale even larger than Xaysana.
Police are still seeking Xiengphet Lattana and his wife, Boua Lattana, relatives of Khonpasong.
Reported by RFA’s Lao Service. Translated by Somnet Inthapannha and Ounkeo Souksavanh. Written in English by Paul Eckert.