Narcotics Suppression Bureau deputy commissioner Pol Maj General Pornchai Charoenwong said that Lao police arrested Sisouk on Saturday in the neighbouring country’s Luang Prabang province after he resisted many police summonses for him to surrender.

“We have told Laos about the links between the two men. They have been in the same drugtrafficking network,” Pornchai said in a press conference.

“We have requested the Laotian side allow us to join the interrogation of Sisouk.”

He had heard that although Sisouk did not have any illicit drugs in his possession at the time of his arrest, his financial transactions were linked to the drug trade.

Thai and Lao authorities have been cracking down on an international drug network involving kingpin Xaysana, a Laotian, who was arrested in Thailand on drugs charges.

However Thai police believed that Sisouk’s alleged drug network is wider than that operated by Xaysana.

Just like Xaysana, Sisouk had been living a highprofile life, rubbing shoulders with celebrities, before his arrest.

Meanwhile Office of the Narcotics Control Board secretary general Sirinya Sitthichai confirmed his agency, as well as antinarcotics police, was in the process of requesting Laos’ permission to interrogate Sisouk. “We will try to determine who else is involved,” he said.

Available evidence suggested Sisouk had used Thailandbased drug deliverymen in sending illicit drugs to Thailand’s South and Malaysia, said Sirinya.

“Key members of this network have already been in detention, except for Usman Salamaeng,” he added.

In the wake of Xaysana’s arrest, famous bike racer Akarakit Worarojcharoendet – better known as Benz Racing – was charged with helping Xaysana launder illgotten gains.

Akarakit’s actress wife Napapa “Pat” Tantrakul is also under investigation.