Thai politician blames Myanmar after massive drug haul

BANGKOK (AFP) - A senior Thai politician on Thursday accused neighbouring Myanmar of failing to tackle drug production after 3.3 million amphetamine tablets were seized in Bangkok.

The haul, with a street value of US$350,000 (S$436,000) and believed to be one of the biggest on record in Thailand, has prompted fears of a surge in the amount of drugs pouring into the kingdom.

"They (the pills) were produced inside Myanmar by the Wa ethnic group," Mr Chalerm Yubamrung, a deputy prime minister in charge of a nationwide blitz on drugs, told reporters of Wednesday's seizure.

The Wa live in an autonomous region in northern Shan state, bordering China and Laos, and are believed to have a thousands-strong army that analysts say is sustained by drug money.