If found guilty, Keopimpha could face death, Thailand’s maximum penalty for smuggling, though the country hasn’t executed anyone since 2009.
Thai police arrested Keopimpha and three associates in January at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
He is believed to have led a drug smuggling network in Asian countries, including Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Four other members of his drug ring were captured in 2016.
Keopimpha was charged with drug smuggling and possession, mainly of trafficking about 1.2 million methamphetamine pills, known in Thai as “yaba” or crazy medicine produced throughout Myanmar’s Mekong River region.
Thai and Laotian authorities seized Keopimpha’s assets valued at THB100 million (US$2.8 million) including luxury vehicles, houses, land titles, bank accounts and cash.
Vorakorn Pongthanakul, Keopimpha’s Thai lawyer said his client denies all charges, and annuls his earlier confession allegedly signed in police custody because, "he didn’t understand Thai laws and officials told him he could change his plea at court," Pongthanakul said.
Keopimpha’s pre-trial examination of evidence is scheduled for June 19.
Prior to his arrest, Keopimpha led an extravagant lifestyle in the company of Thai’s celebrities and soap opera stars posing in a picture with former Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong’s son and daughter-in-law, Sommaly Thammavong. She later told Radio Free Asia the photo was taken "by accident."
"We have not done any business with him, and we didn’t know what he was involved in," Ms. Thammavong said.
The Golden Triangle, a region that spans Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and southern China, is the world’s second largest drug producing hub behind Latin America.
Large amounts of opium, heroin, and methamphetamine pills are smuggled each year.
Yet compared to Latin America, major cartel figures such as Keopimpha are not big names and are rarely captured.
