Two influential figures in Narathiwat summoned to report to NCPO
Two names which appeared on a list of 12 individuals ordered by the National Council for Peace and Order to report to the military at the army club in accordance with Order No 50 sounded unfamiliar to most people outside the three southernmost provinces.
But for the people in the restive southern region, their names, Ousman Salemaeng and Je-awae Samaromoh, ring a bell influential figures.
Ousman became a front-page news in 2009 when 10 million baht cash was found hidden in specially-built compartment of a Toyota Fortuner that was seized by anti-narcotics officials from his drug trafficking network at a house in Saphan Soong area in Bangkok four years earlier. The same car was then sent to Udon Thani for use by the provincial police at the order of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board.
The Department of Special Investigation resolved on August 29, 2008to treat Ousman’s case as a special case. This allowed the DSI to order a thorough search of the impounded Toyota Fortuner. The car was literally stripped of all the upholstered and fibre panels and this was how 9.9 million baht in 1,000 baht and 500 baht banknotes were found stuffed inside the paneling of the two hind doors.
Isra News Agency used to publish an exclusive report on the drug trafficking network of two gangs in the Deep South on August 16, 2010. Ousman was alleged as one of the two gang leaders. The other gang leader was identified as Mayakee Yakoh.
Ousman who is still at large on drug trafficking charges was also wanted in the United States by the Drugs Enforcement Agency for the same charges. The DEA suspected that he might be hiding in Laos.
Je-awae was also known as an influential figure in Tak Bai district of Narathiwat. His brother and one of his sons are kamnan in Tak Bai districts. He used to contest the Provincial Administration Organisation poll in Tak Bai but failed the test.
It was reported by Thai News Agency that Je-awae had reported to the military at the army club on June 7. He said he was told by his wife about his sommon to report to the military as he was on a plane bound for Bangkok from Narathiwat.
Tak Bai district of Narathiwat is infamous for being the "twilight zone" for illegal oil smuggling. The district borders with Kelantan state of Malaysia. To cross to Malaysia, one has to go through the Taba customs checkpoint and take a boat ride to cross the Tak Bai river.
The fact that Tak Bai was closely associated with oil smuggling activities because of the prices of petroleum products in Malaysia which are almost half of the prices in Thailand. Hence, oil smuggling has always been a thriving business involving gangs on both sides of the Thai-Malaysian border. And Bae To was referred to as one of the biggest oil smuggling barons.
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Caption : (left) Ousman Salemaeng (right) Je-awae Samaromoh