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Published on September 12, 2007

But Thai Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Piyira Khempon said the government was not aware of the arrest, if any was made.

Thai police spokesman Lt General Narong Yangyern dismissed the report. He said a thorough check showed that the last time Thai police arrested any LTTE member was in 2003 and he was extradited on August 15, 2007 to Sri Lanka.

According to online newspaper Asia Tribune's report out of Sri Lanka's capital of Colombo, KP had obtained Thai citizenship and was married to a Thai woman.

A senior Thai intelligence officer confirmed that KP has been travelling in and out of Thailand over the years but also dismissed the report that he was arrested on Thai soil.

According to the Tribune report, KP is a noted smuggler of arms and narcotics. Operating with bank accounts in London, Frankfurt, Denmark, Athens and Australia, he has had a free run so far.

"If indeed KP has been arrested, it would be a big blow to the LTTE. He is one man who can reveal the massive network of the LTTE on procurement worldwide," said Iqbal Athas, a Colombo-based security expert who follows the civil war there.

"Though known to be inactive, the fact that he has reportedly surfaced in Thailand is significant. This is in light of the military crackdown on the LTTE in Sri Lanka," Athas added.

According to the Tribune, KP's favourite bases have been Rangoon in Burma, Singapore and recently Johannesburg.

He moves smoothly across borders and is said to be in possession of numerous passports.

His arrest will be a big breakthrough to smash the arms smuggling racket of the Tamil Tigers. Investigations are expected to probe deep into the international network of LTTE smuggling links, LTTE procedures, money laundering and the underworld dealers who supply weapons and drugs.

The Nation