¡¡BANGKOK, July 31 (Xinhuanet) -- Thailand's Third Army Region confirmed that Myanmar had detained 12 Thais from Chiang Rai province, 700 kilometers north from Bangkok, on charges of spying and drug trafficking.

¡¡¡¡Third Army Region Commander Udomchai Ong-kasingh was quoted by the Nation newspaper Wednesday as saying that from what he learnt so far, a group of 12 Thais were detained in the Kientung provinceof Myanmar, but details have yet to be verified.

¡¡¡¡Some of the detained Thais are suspected of being spies while others are charged with being involved in drug trafficking, he said, noting that it was believed that Myanmar would detain the group for a number of days, and when suspicions are cleared, it would release and deport them.

¡¡¡¡The Army may resort to using its personal relationship with Myanmar to secure freedom for the Thais, he added. Enditem

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