Traffickers: Inside The Golden Triangle

Among all the drug lords

in the Golden Triangle

he was number one.

An enemy's weapon

can be turned on themselves.

Oh, hit the target!

Among all the drug lords

in the Golden Triangle

he was number one.

Do you hear, over?

His base was surrounded by mountains

not easy to call in air strikes.

It was also very difficult

to send in ground forces.

How many more hours to go?

Seven more hours to go?

I am a revolutionary leader.

The DEA and the Burmese

and the drug enforcement

organizations, all have to get money

from countries like Australia.

They get a big budget

and use it in Southeast Asia

for political purposes.

To get that money

they have to say that

I realize that it has bad effects

on human health

and that it makes people

become slow and dull.

I realize very well

the effects of heroin.

I feel very sad about that.

I realize the danger of drugs.

That is why from my heart

I want to stop the opium.

When you compare the opium

that comes from Mexico

or South America or Afghanistan

the opium in the Golden Triangle area

is the best quality.

Opium has been grown

by us Shan people

since the days of our early ancestors.

Originally it was not sold

but used to cure sickness

like stomach aches and headaches.

But when the war with Burma began

many groups started using opium

to make money, for their armies.

Khun Sa was no exception.

In the history of the Shan

he was one of our great leaders.

He managed to convince these people

many of whom were very poor

that he was in there

fighting for them.

A lot of that was false.

I think he was really interested in

his own, you know, wealth and power.

He's not like Robin Hood.

He claimed that people adored him

because let's say he earned 100 baht

he gave them five baht. Of course

those people are very happy

but the 95 baht goes into his pocket.

He led a lavish lifestyle.

He had a tennis court, a swimming pool

and two to three of his own houses.

He also had many mistresses.

You could say it was his hobby

or it's in his character.

Did he live well?

Let's just say

he owned many night clubs.

He was into dancing

and having a good time.

Deal the cards, man.

I came here with luck.

What did you have

to make you this lucky today?

Did you bring any talisman with you?

No luck! - Come on, deal the cards.

Not that I'm bragging

but I got nine!

Get home safe.

See you tomorrow.

Good luck, man.

Wow, you won a lot.

You're rich today.

Just today, I let you win.

Come early tomorrow.

There is, at the present time

a stockpile of over one ton

of 94% to 97% pure heroin.

They sent DEA agents

to be stationed in Thailand.

My boss called me into the room

and wanted me to set up

a small group.

First case we did

two and a half tons of opium.

Mike Powers was a DEA agent

assigned to work

in the Chiang Mai area.

He liked to dress in fatigues

and go out with the police

and put his face out in the public.

That's very dangerous.

You just walking around like that and

tell them, "I'm a DEA agent."