• Burmese
Sunday, June 22, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
26 °c
Yangon
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home News Burma

UWSA Kills 6 More Drug Traffickers, Struggles to Police Thai-Myanmar Border

Lawi Weng by Lawi Weng
October 4, 2019
in Burma
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0 0
A A
Detainees accused of illegal drug trafficking and arrested by the UWSA on Oct. 1 in eastern Shan State / Nyi Rang / Facebook

Detainees accused of illegal drug trafficking and arrested by the UWSA on Oct. 1 in eastern Shan State / Nyi Rang / Facebook

7.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Six more alleged members of an illegal drug trafficking group were killed by United Wa State Army (UWSA) forces on Wednesday as the ethnic armed group attempted to hunt down drug traffickers who escaped clashes on Tuesday near the Thai-Myanmar border in eastern Shan State.

“We killed six of them and detained one,” Nyi Rang, a spokesperson for the UWSA in Lashio, told The Irrawaddy on Friday.

The incident broke out at 5 p.m. as members of the UWSA encountered the alleged drug traffickers and told them to surrender. The traffickers refused and then reportedly attacked the UWSA forces. Nyi Rang said his troops seized around 3 million methamphetamine tablets during the incident.

RelatedPosts

Wa State Aims to Boost Economy Through Chinese Projects

Wa State Aims to Boost Economy Through Chinese Projects

February 20, 2025
2.8k
Wa Deploys Troops to Prevent Spread of Shan Fighting

Wa Deploys Troops to Prevent Spread of Shan Fighting

July 12, 2024
19.2k
Myanmar Military Bows to Powerful Ethnic Army, Gives it More Towns Near China Border

Myanmar Military Bows to Powerful Ethnic Army, Gives it More Towns Near China Border

January 15, 2024
16.7k

Some of the drug traffickers escaped and the UWSA said it is continuing to search the nearby mountains and jungles.

The UWSA controls an area in eastern Shan State that shares a 400-kilometer border with Thailand, but Nyi Rang said his troops are unable to police illegal drug smuggling across such a large area.

“If these methamphetamines were smuggled across to Thailand, the Thai government would blame us yet again,” Nyi Rang said.

The Thai government has often blamed the UWSA for allowing illegal drugs to be smuggled into the country.

Much of the region’s illegal drug trade is produced in Shan State and smuggled into Thailand where traffickers can sell the drugs for a much higher price than in Myanmar. Thai authorities often seize illegal drugs in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and other areas in northern Thailand. Thai authorities have claimed that these illegal drugs are produced by the UWSA. The UWSA has denied all accusations from the Thai government.

The armed group also announced that it has eliminated illegal drugs in its area, no longer allowing local residents to produce heroin and punishing drug traffickers.

The UWSA received a tip last month that a group of illegal drug traffickers was using its territory to transport methamphetamine tablets into Thailand. The UWSA tightened security along the border with Thailand starting on Sept. 10.

The UWSA seized the traffickers’ guns following the clash. The traffickers were reportedly wearing military-style uniforms and boots, but not those of the Myanmar army.

Nyi Rang said the drug traffickers were from an ethnic group in Myanmar but refused to mention which group, saying it was not good to mention their ethnicity. They were reportedly members of a local people’s militia in Shan State.

The UWSA is the largest and best-armed ethnic armed group in Myanmar, based in northern and eastern Shan State.

Your Thoughts …
Tags: drug traffickingUnited Wa State Army
Lawi Weng

Lawi Weng

The Irrawaddy

Similar Picks:

Wa Deploys Troops to Prevent Spread of Shan Fighting
Ethnic Issues

Wa Deploys Troops to Prevent Spread of Shan Fighting

by The Irrawaddy
July 12, 2024
19.2k

The United Wa State Army says residents of Tangyan in northern Shan State asked it to deploy troops to protect...

Read moreDetails
Myanmar Military Bows to Powerful Ethnic Army, Gives it More Towns Near China Border
Burma

Myanmar Military Bows to Powerful Ethnic Army, Gives it More Towns Near China Border

by The Irrawaddy
January 15, 2024
16.7k

The most heavily armed ethnic army in Myanmar – the United Wa State Army (UWSA) – officially takes control of...

Read moreDetails
Whither Wa State? Myanmar’s Criminal Hub Spreads Wings Under Junta 
Analysis

Whither Wa State? Myanmar’s Criminal Hub Spreads Wings Under Junta 

by Margaret Aung
July 22, 2023
6.5k

Enclave controlled by United Wa State Army has graduated from drugs to international human trafficking and scams, as rule of...

Read moreDetails
Kokang: Caught Between Myanmar and China
Guest Column

Kokang: Caught Between Myanmar and China

by Bertil Lintner
January 18, 2023
9.8k

The mostly ethnic Chinese people of the Kokang region in Shan State are backing resistance to the junta, almost certainly...

Read moreDetails
Wa State Aims to Boost Economy Through Chinese Projects
Ethnic Issues

Wa State Aims to Boost Economy Through Chinese Projects

by The Irrawaddy
February 20, 2025
2.8k

The United Wa State Army’s AGM has agreed to take advantage of cross-border infrastructure projects being proposed by Beijing.

Read moreDetails
China’s Crackdown on Cyber Scams in Myanmar Nets UWSA Deputy Chief
Burma

China’s Crackdown on Cyber Scams in Myanmar Nets UWSA Deputy Chief

by The Irrawaddy
October 19, 2023
2.6k

Deputy commander-in-chief of the United Wa State Army was arrested in Yunnan province for alleged involvement in cyber scams.

Read moreDetails
Load More
Next Post
The Dawei Special Economic Zone in Tanintharyi Region / Reuters

Thailand and Myanmar Agree to Push Ahead With Dawei Special Economic Zone

Military lawmakers register at the country’s Parliament in Naypyitaw in August 2015. / Reuters

Legitimacy of Myanmar Military Polling Stations in Doubt Ahead of 2020 Election

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

Trade and Traffic from Thai Border Region Dwindle as Checkpoints Multiply

Trade and Traffic from Thai Border Region Dwindle as Checkpoints Multiply

2 days ago
895
The Lady Myanmar’s Generals Can’t Defeat

The Lady Myanmar’s Generals Can’t Defeat

3 days ago
662

Most Read

  • Myanmar Junta Moves to Seize Sagaing Roads

    Myanmar Junta Moves to Seize Sagaing Roads

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Certifying a Chinese Security Invasion; Boosting Ties With Nuclear North Korea; and More

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Changes Election Law Ahead of Polls

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Residents of Myanmar Ruby Hub Speak Out as TNLA Mining Takes Toll

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Trade and Traffic from Thai Border Region Dwindle as Checkpoints Multiply

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Books
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.