Xieng Khuang court sentences drug traffickers to death in absentia
Xieng Khuang authorities on Wednesday burned more than 7.4 million tablets of Cenicid, a precursor ingredient in the manufacture of methamphetamine.
According to Xieng Khuang authorities, one Cenicid tablet usually contains 60mg of pseudoephedrine HCI and 2.5mg of triprolidine HCI. The Cenicid destroyed on Wednesday had over the recommended amounts of both of those ingredients.
Police seized the drugs at the Namkan international border checkpoint on August 6, 2009, from a truck carrying 182 blankets, 100 cases of children's clothing, and 311 boxes of Cenicid.
Police allege that Mr Tran Cuoc Toan, 37, from Vinh, Vietnam, drove the truck from there to the checkpoint.
After the truck passed into Xieng Khuang province, Mr Saysongkam Sayabounsou, 36, of Khamsavat village in Xaysettha district, Vientiane, and two accomplices approached authorities requesting the release of the goods on the truck.
The men said they had permission from the Panitchacheuan Trade Import and Export Company to receive the goods from Mr Tran.
When the authorities informed him that the goods would be inspected, Mr Saysongkham immediately excused himself on the pretence of fetching some more documents.
Mr Saysongkham and the two other men disappeared and Mr Tran fled into Vietnam.
The subsequent inspection of the truck found 311 boxes of Cenicid weighing almost 4,670 kg, as well as 200,000 Thai baht.
All the men involved in the case are still at large, but Mr Saysongkam and Mr Tran were this week sentenced to death in absentia.
The Xieng Khuang provincial criminal court agreed with the prosecutor's request for the death sentence in accordance with criminal law.
