This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen
on .
It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
Five charged over attempt to smuggle North Korean meth to US
Sorry - the page you are looking for has been removed
(35 minutes later)
The United States has announced charges against five suspects extradited from Thailand for allegedly smuggling methamphetamine from North Korea, which prosecutors said has become a growing production hub.
This may be because of a legal objection, a rights consideration or for another reason. If you would like to contact someone about the page, you could email:The readers’ editor: reader@theguardian.comUser help: userhelp@theguardian.com
Federal prosecutors said Thai authorities arrested the five in September and sent them to New York on Tuesday over an ill-fated bid to send 100 kg (220 lbs) of North Korean-produced meth by boat to the United States.
To continue reading, please use the links at the top of the page or visit the Guardian’s home page or search for related content.
The suspects included two British citizens, one Chinese, one Filipino and one purported leader of a Thai motorcycle gang whose nationality was not specified. They face life in prison if convicted.
US authorities said that cash-strapped North Korea, which is under stringent international sanctions over its nuclear and other military programs, had emerged as a centre for production of the stimulant.
“This investigation continued to highlight the emergence of North Korea as a significant source of methamphetamine in the global drug trade,” Michele Leonhart, head of the US Drug Enforcement Administration, said in a statement.
Prosecutors said the group, who used a base in the Philippines, bought 100kg and planned to package it in tea leaves and send it on a ship to the United States.
An armed motorcycle gang tried to guard the shipment but Thai authorities broke up the shipment and arrested the five on 25 September, according to US prosecutors for the southern district of New York.
Meth, often associated with the rural poor in the United States, has seen a boom in Asia both with the young party set as well as labourers and farmers.
Last year 227 million methamphetamine pills were seized in east and southeast Asia, a 59% rise from a year before, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Burma (Myanmar) is also considered a major source, with some ethnic rebel groups believed to use meth profits to fund their long-running insurgencies.
