Karaoke-murder fugitive Preeyanuch "Preaw" Nonwangchai trafficked drugs from the Golden Triangle for sale in Thailand, according to the chief of narcotics control police.
"A few years ago Preaw was arrested for possession and use of an illegal drug and the Office of the Narcotics Control Board later found out she had contacts with a big drug cartel that trafficks drugs into Thailand from the Golden Triangle area of Myanmar," Sirinya Sitdhichai, secretary-general of the ONCB, said on Friday.
The ONCB was trying to suppress the cartel's activities, but had yet to ascertain whether Ms Preeyanuch's part was to collect money or lure customers, he said.
Mr Sirinya believed Ms Preeyanuch, 24, and two other woman suspects aged 25 and 28 were hiding in a special administrative zone in Myanmar inaccessible to Myanmar authorities.
They are wanted for the murder of Warisara Klinjui, 22, on May 23. Her dismembered body was found buried on land owned by Ms Preeyanuch in Khao Suan Kwang district, Khon Kaen, on May 25. Two other suspects have been arrested, a man and a woman.
The victim worked in a karaoke bar in Muang district of Khon Kaen and the suspects are all Khon Kaen natives.
Mr Sirinya did not think Warisara was murdered to prevent authorities from rounding up more members of the gang. For that to happen, the victim should have been a big trafficker herself. She was a friend of Ms Preeyanuch, he said.
Warisara informed on the drug network, police have admitted, and Ms Preeyanuch's husband was among those arrested.
Pol Maj Gen Yanyong Vej-osot, chief investigator of Provincial Police Region 4, said that after crossing the border to Myanmar from Chiang Rai's Mae Sai district, the three fleeing suspects worked briefly at a local karaoke bar in Tachilek, until warrants were issued for their arrest by a Thai court on May 28.
Someone then helped the women escape.
The three entered Myanmar on May 25 with border passes that set their valid stay there at seven days. Therefore, they are already illegal immigrants. If arrested, they would be prosecuted for illegal entry before being returned to Thailand, Pol Maj Gen Yanyong said.
Investigators had received useful information from interviews with about 50 people, but had yet to decide if warrants would be sought for any additional suspects, he said.