For nearly half a century, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Royal Thai Police Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) have benefited from bilateral drug law enforcement cooperation. The DEA works shoulder-to-shoulder with the Kingdom of Thailand to address the production, manufacture, and trafficking of methamphetamine, heroin, and other illicit drugs throughout Southeast Asia. The DEA, as a partner in the global fight against narcotics trafficking organizations, offers extensive training in successful narcotics law enforcement techniques to Thai law enforcement and regulatory personnel as well as to personnel from several other neighboring countries.

Because of the close relationship between the DEA and the NSB and the resulting success this collaboration has engendered, many drug trafficking organizations have altered their trafficking patterns over time in an effort to avoid detection and to corner the market of illicit drug activity. One such organization is the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and its notorious leader, Wei Hsueh Kang. The UWSA has added methamphetamine production to its clandestine inventory of dangerous, illicit drugs in an attempt to generate greater profits and to operate with impunity outside the reach of law enforcement.

The DEA, along with our partners in law enforcement, continuously adjusts our investigative techniques to meet the ever-changing threat. One promising method involves the use of the World Wide Web to solicit information from the public. This website supports the DEA's "Rewards for Information" program that gives communities throughout Asia an avenue to provide law enforcement with information on individuals involved in drug trafficking, terrorism, and money laundering. This program also solicits information concerning major fugitives that are wanted for crimes committed throughout Asia and the United States.

The DEA knows that community involvement at every level is essential to winning the fight against criminal organizations that traffic in illicit drugs which plague our youth and communities. All information obtained through the Rewards for Information program will be investigated by the elite Sensitive Investigative Unit (SIU), comprised of the most experienced and qualified officers and agents of the DEA and NSB who are dedicated to making our communities safe and drug-free. The SIU has had numerous successes in the past and will continue to improve its effectiveness by responding to the information provided by concerned citizens through this initiative.