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Yangon, 1 Sept- A Press conference on stimulant tablet-producing place captured by members of the local intelligence unit and the Tatmadaw columns in East Monglin Village-tract in Tachilek Township, Shan State (East), was held at the Tatmadaw Guest House on Inya Road this morning. Present were Minister at the Prime Minister's Office U Tin Winn, Deputy Chief of Defence Services Intelligence Bureau Maj-Gen Kyaw Win, Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung, Deputy Minister for Information Brig-Gen Aung Thein, Director of Public Relations and Psychological Warfare Brig-Gen Khin Aung Myint, heads of departments of Defence Services Intelligence Bureau, President of Myanmar Foreign Correspondents Club U Sao Kai Hpa and correspondents. General Staff Officer (Grade II) Major Thaik Soe of Defence Services Intelligence Bureau acted as master of ceremonies.
Maj-Gen Kyaw Win said a combined team comprising members of local intelligence unit, Tatmadaw columns and members of the anti-drug squad, acting on information, mopped up the stimulant tablet-producing place near Kyashipa Village in East Monglin Village-tract in Tachilek Township, Shan State (East), and Weinlan Village on 24 August. Alogether 26 persons were arrested with 25 assorted weapons, 717 rounds of ammunition, two communication sets, two machines for producing stimulant tablets and paraphernalia. There were preposterous accusations and false statements about production of stimulant tablets that only Wa nationals produced stimulant tablets and all stimulant tablets seized in Thailand came from Wa nationals.
According to the investigation, this event was not in the least concerned with Wa nationals. It was the work done by some local people with their own investment. In his clarifactions, General Staff Officer (Grade I) Lt-Col Min Lwin of Defence Services Intelligence Bureau said the combined team comprising mem- bers of local intelligence unit and regional Tatmadaw columns and member of Myanmar Police Force, acting on information, mopped up the drug refinery camp, about 500 yards east of Kyashipa Village with map reference (L-125150) in Monglin East Village Tract in Tachilek Township, Shan State (East) on 24 August. Sai Lon, 31, Tin Kwel, 42, Lon Tit, 47, Aik San Tip (a) Aik Sam Non, 46 and Aik Wone, 43, of Weinlan Village of Monglin East Village Tract in Tachilek Township, Aik Kel, 45, Shel Maw, 36, Li Ti, 25, Kya Le, 60, Kya Htaw, 25, Kya The, 35, Aik Law, 36, Kyaka, 60, Kya Pu, 25, Kya Pa, 27 and Aik Ya, 60 and MaungMaung (a) Law Pa, 36 of Maesai, Thailand and Ar Lo, 24 were arrested with two stimulant tablet-producing machines, 83.2 kilos of Amphetamine powder, 4 kilos of Ephedrine powder, 35 kilos of Caffine powder, 6 kilos of colouring powder, 3 bottles of 1-litre Phecodine, one mixer, 40 rivets with WY brand, 33 rivets without WY brand, white crystal and 6.9 kilos of powder, 30 stimulant tablets with WY brand, one 9 mm pistol, three M-22 automatic rifles, one .32 revolver, one M-24 automatic rifle, one M-16 automatic rifle, one long gun, two Thai-made short guns, one long gun, one long barrel, two .303 rifles, 10 magazines and 194 rounds of ammunition. The team searched the house of Aik Nwe in Weinlan Village, Monglin East Village Tract in Tachilek Township and arrested Aik Nwe, Aik On, 40, Aik San, 45, Aik On, 45, Sai Shan, 24, Aik Phat, 35 and Sai Wun, 30, together with three M-22 automatic rifles, one M-16 automatic rifle, one gun, one Uzi, three 9mm pistols, one .38 pistol, two communication sets, two sniper telescopes, two shells, 11 magazines, 520 rounds of ammunition. Then, the combined team raided the room of Shan Chinese Arpha (a) Arma of No 1/45 Quarters, 1st Street, Mekhaung Ward, Tachilek, who produced stimulant tablets. The combined team seized 0.07 kg of heroin, 30 stimulant tablets bearing the letters WY, one Walter Pistol, one magazine and three bullets.
In the events mentioned above, altogether 26 persons were seized with 25 assorted arms, 717 rounds of ammunition, two communication sets, two machines for making stimulant tablets, one mixer, 83.2 kilos of Amphetamine powder, 35 kilos of caffeine powder, four kilos of Ephedrine, 0.07 kilo of heroin, 60 stimulant tablets, six kilos of orange colouring powder, three bottles of Codeine liquid, 6.9 kilos of chemical powder and other paraphernalia. After Aik Nwe of Weinlan Village, aged 27, and Arpha of Tachilek, aged 30, were interrogated, it was learnt that Aik Nwe, a native of Weinlan Village in Tachilek Township, had trafficked in narcotic drugs three times; he got acquainted with Kyee Min (on the run) of Tachilek and Arpha in September 2000; in June, they came to the house of Aik Nwe; they told him that they had a plan to produce stimulant tablets and asked him to find a place to be used for production of stimulant tablets and to take security measures; they assured him that on completion of the work, they would give him about 500,000 baht; at this, Aik Nwe agreed to their plan. In the third week of June 2001, Aik Nwe met with Headman of Kyashipa Village Aik Kel and asked him to show a place for production of stimulant tablets near Kyashipa Village and told him that if the work could be done, assistance would be given; Headman Aik Kel searched for a place. In the last week of June 2001, Kyee Min living in Tachilek brought the machine for making stimulant tablets and chemicals to the house of Aik Nwe of Weinlan Village in his van in three or four batches. The group led by Headman of Kyashipa Village Aik Kel carried these things to the place where stimulant tablets were to be produced. To take security measures for that place, Aik Nwe illegally bought small arms from the side of Laos. Arpha, a native of Lwelan Village in Tangyan Township, lived in Tachilek. He and Kyee Min used drugs together.
Both took the lead in producing stimulant tablets. After discussing with Aik Nwe of Weinlan Village the matters related to the place for production of stimulant tablets and security matters, they bought two machines for production of stimulant tablets and necessary chemicals from Aik Chai living in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in June 2001. At the end of June 2001, Aik Chai sent the things which Arpha bought to the house of Arpha living in Mekhaung Ward, Tachilek in two batches. All the things cost over 2.8 million baht. Kyee Min and Arpha bore these expenses. It was the first time that Arpha and Kyee Min arranged to produce stimulant tablets. They didn't know whether the quality of stimulant tablets were good or bad. If the quality was good, they had to find buyers. So far, they haven't yet found buyers or chosen the place where the sale would be carried out and the route. They estimated that about 800,000 stimulant tablets could be produced out of already-mixed Amphetamine powder. The persons who played the main role in producing stimulant tablets are Shan-Chinese, Lahu and Akha. Investigation is going on to find out the main characters and those who took security measures for them. Action will be taken against them in accord with existing laws of Myanmar. Then, video documentary on the place where stimulant tablets were produced and seized drugs were shown. Afterwards, the officials replied to the queries raised by the journalists. After the Press conference, the journalists and those present viewed the maps and photos showing the place where stimulant tablets were produced, and seized stimulant tablets. |
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