U.S. Indicts Myanmar Warlord as Major Trafficker in Heroin

WASHINGTON —  U.S. officials Thursday announced the drug-trafficking indictment of warlord Chang Chi-Fu but conceded that they have no immediate hope of apprehending the long-sought alleged opium kingpin, who calls himself “Prince Prosperous.”

A federal grand jury in Brooklyn returned a sealed indictment against Chang Chi-Fu on 10 drug-trafficking charges last December, Atty. Gen. Dick Thornburgh announced Thursday. Some of the charges involved the largest heroin seizure ever--1,086 kilograms seized in Bangkok and destined for the United States.

Chang Chi-Fu, also known as Khun Sa, commands an army of between 4,000 and 10,000 soldiers operating out of Myanmar (formerly Burma) and northern Thailand. His army is responsible for most of the heroin smuggled into New York from the “Golden Triangle” area of Southeast Asia, authorities said.

Thornburgh and John C. Lawn, head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, told reporters that if Khun Sa were arrested, he could be returned to the United States under a U.S.-Myanmar extradition treaty that was signed in 1931 but never has been used. But they acknowledged that his precise whereabouts are unknown and he has been sought since 1976 by the Royal Thai Police on drug trafficking charges.

In addition, relations between the United States and Myanmar have been strained since all U.S. aid was cut off in 1988 after the installation of a military government and repressive actions against public demonstrations.

The Supreme Court last month upheld the authority of U.S. agents to seize foreign fugitives who are wanted in American courts without regard to traditional Fourth Amendment protections that would apply to U.S. citizens. But Thornburgh said no such action is contemplated against Khun Sa.

“Khun Sa has described himself as ‘Prince Prosperous,’ but as the largest dope pusher in the Golden Triangle, the title ‘Prince of Death’ . . . might be more apt,” Thornburgh said.