"Yaba" Comes to Thailand Also from Northern Burma

"Yaba" Comes to Thailand Also from Northern Burma

Wednesday, 28 July.

According to SHAN reporter in the north, amphetamines plaguing Thai society are not produced only across the border from Thailand but also far up in the north near the Chinese border. 

"Two years ago, the horse pills (popular name for amphetamines) were imported to the Mao Valley (northernmost Shan State) from east of the Salween", sources told SHAN. "But now they are being produced in the villages and forest just around here". 

The source cited one factory just 50 miles southeast of Muse, the border town opposite Ruili, Yunan Province, China, operated by a group of Chinese in Tarknai village, Tima Tract. The area was reported to be under the control Kachin Independence Army, a ceasefire group. Another factory is in nearby Mongko, operated by Kokang Chinese. 

From Muse, now heart of the Mao Valley, amphetamines are imported into China and to lower Burma. 
"In Mandalay, the price is US$ 4,000 - 5,000 per kilo. In Rangoon, it becomes US$ 8,000 - 10,000. From there, you can transport it by boat and enter Thailand through various channels like the Three Pagoda Pass (across from Kanjanaburi Province) and Kawsawng (opposite Ranong)", whispered the source. 

Asked about the role of the authorities, he replied, "The CCDAC (the junta's anti-narcotics agency) can catch only small try. Even some of them complained about not being able to touch the big ones without explicit orders from above". 

He added, "Even the UN and NGO people, who frequent Muse, know this. It's just an open secret".