Indonesian arrested in Bangkok

Indonesian arrested in Bangkok

Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra (right) inspects a cache of 140 kilograms of heroin and other drugs in front of arrested suspects Tjong Leng Oei (center) from Indonesia and his adopted Thai son Direk Ruangritthi (left) at Bangkok's police headquarters on Friday.

The prime minister confronted three suspected heroin traffickers, including the two suspects, on Friday as they were paraded before the media.

"Do you know we have capital punishment in Thailand?" Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra asked Singaporean suspect Fah Weng Lan. Fah, 35, did not respond.

Police seized the 140 kilograms heroin in two raids in Bangkok on Thursday.

The drugs were worth an estimated US$33 million in the United States and Australia, where police believe the shipments were headed.

Thaksin's presence at a news conference announcing the bust was apparently to emphasize the government's seriousness in combating drug trafficking, which it has declared public enemy No. 1.

Thailand has executed about 40 drug traffickers since Thaksin's government took office in February 2001.

Police say they found 105 kilograms (231 pounds) of heroin in Fah's house after information from the other two suspects, Indonesian Oei, 54, and Direk, 27. The two were arrested in their apartment, where police said they confiscated 34.65 kilograms of heroin.

Police said they also found small amounts of the illicit drugs methamphetamine and ecstasy. -- AP