Xaysana Keopimpha arrives at the Criminal Court in April from the Central Correctional Institution for Drug Addicts, where he is being held. (Bangkok Post file photo)Alleged Lao drug lord Xaysana Keopimpha and two co-defendants pleaded not guilty to charges of collusion in the smuggling of methamphetamine into Thailand when they were arraigned in the Criminal Court on Monday morning. It is the second indictment brought against Mr Xaysana following his arrest at Suvarnabhumi airport on arrival from Phuket early this year. On July 26, Mr Xaysana and alleged accomplices Chumphon Phanomprai and Ratchapol Ratsahapolpakorn were charged by prosecutors with the smuggling of 2.38 million methamphetamine pills for distribution. His arrest triggered a series of raids and arrests of people suspected of involvement in his transnational drug smuggling network.

Source: Bangkok Post July 31, 2017 08:37 UTC