FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

Who’s the smartest player when drug money gets laundered?

Who’s the smartest player when drug money gets laundered?

Re: “How did Xaysana get away with it so long?” Editorial, January 31.

It is easy to invest about Bt2 million into producing and transporting illegal drugs and get Bt20 million in return. 
If a drug dealer wants to launder some of that money, all he has to do is buy an expensive car – like a Lamborghini or a Ferrari – and offer to sell it for half that price to any Thai celebrity. Almost every hi-so person in Thailand will grab that chance.
Turning Bt2 million of dark money into Bt10 million of an above-board legal tender is not a bad idea anyway.
Be that as it may, in this particular case, who has been the smarter party: the Lao drug kingpin or the Thai hi-so types?
Vint Chavala

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