Burma's 'Opium King' Khun Sa died today in Rangoon aged 74.
A warlord, liberation fighter, heroin king pin, and rumoured associate of the CIA, Khun Sa became one the principal figures in opium smuggling in the Golden Triangle.
At one point commanding a private army of 15,000 men, he fought for the autonomy of the Shah ethnic minority in Burma's remote north-eastern Shan State. He also ensured a steady flow of heroin to the streets of Europe, the United States, and Asia.
Having given himself up to Burmese authorities in 1996, Khun Sa retired in Rangoon and successfully avoided US attempts to have him extradited.
For an excellent PBS Frontline documentary on the Burma's heroin trade and the rise and fall of Khun Sa see:
Also see slide show on the 'King of the Highlands'
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