Dope seized, occupants unscathed

Drugs

Dope seized, occupants unscathed

State-run report on one of the biggest drug seizures ever made by government forces last year had failed to disclose the identities of the guilty party who were allowed to go free, according to informed sources in northern Shan State. Hawkeye reports:

On 13 August 2003, Myanmar News Agency reported on a raid of a refinery launched in Kutkhai township, 31 July - 1 August. Seizures included 62.45 kg of heroin, 36.4 kg of raw opium and 4 arms, among others. "Action is being taken under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law," MNA concluded.

Sources however said occupants under the command of Lapa, Commander of the Kachin Independence Army's Battalion 8, whose base in near Nam Sawngkay, some 20 miles northwest of the township seat, had submitted themselves to the besiegers without a fight. The combined force from Kutkhai-based Infantry Battalions 45 and 242 and Kunlong-based Light Infantry Battalion 312, together with a special anti-drug squad of Khun Myat, then found a heroin factory on the premises, just 25 meters away from the Kachin commander's quarters.

The raiders were reported to have come across 560 kg of heroin, several barrels of chemicals, 2 pistols and 2 M21 automatic rifles. "It took 12 tolajis (farm tractors) to haul all the loot toKutkhai," claimed one source who took part in the raid. "Even the area commander Col San Shwe Tha, who personally directed the operation, exclaimed, 'This is certainly second only to Mongkoe'."

The Army's operation against a Kokang splinter group, Mongkoe Defense Army of Mong Sala, in October 2000, had captured a refinery that turned out both heroin and methamphetamine.

One of the people who went scot free was said to be Ho Zeshan, 45, an ethnic Chinese from Panglaw, north of Nam Sawngkay, who owned the factory. "He got away as he was dressed up in the KIA uniform," said a source. The raiders were said to have been tipped off by Naw Mai a.k.a Lao Wang, 46, a deserter from the KIA.

Dr Tuja, Vice Present of Kachin Independence Organization, the KIA's political arm, later admitted that the said refinery had connections to some of its members, reported Radio Free Asia on 6 April.