60 Bn Kyats Worth of Drugs Seized in Mandalay

By Zarni Mann 6 July 2017

MANDALAY – More than 60 billion kyats (US$44 million) worth of drugs along with 380 million kyats worth of gold were seized from a home in Mandalay’s Pyigyitagon Township on Wednesday, the largest single amount seized in Mandalay this year.

The haul was made after the owner of the house Liou Yone Chan, also known as Kyaw Win, was arrested along with his wife and a friend for possession of 70 kilograms of methamphetamine in Nawnghkio Township, Shan State last week, according to police.

“The three individuals, along with the couple’s housekeeper, are now in police custody and will be charged under Myanmar’s narcotics law,” U Kyaw Tun, deputy police superintendent of Mandalay regional anti-narcotic unit 1, told The Irrawaddy on Thursday.

According to the police, more than one million methamphetamine “yaba” tablets called 88, five cars, gold blocks and gold accessories were seized along with with 36 million kyats in cash.

“The tablets were concealed inside the gas tank and hubcaps of cars parked on the grounds of the house, ready to be transported,” said U Kyaw Tun.