A group of concerned Myanmar citizens has made the biggest advance in the struggle against illicit drugs in many years. The grassroots group, which calls itself the Kachin Anti-Drug Committee, has taken action where government authorities have fallen short.
When the police refused to crack down on the flourishing drug trade in the northern town of Hpakant, the group made a "citizens' arrest" of an alleged drug kingpin, a local woman. And it appears they have discovered just why Myanmar government and anti-drug forces failed to do their duty against drug dealers.
The anti-drug group seized $3 million (106.5 million baht) in cash and a "huge amount" of drugs. But the most interesting evidence taken from the woman were two notebooks. They allegedly contain details of the businesses of the heroin and methamphetamine syndicates known to operate in and around Hpakant. And they show strong evidence that the drug gangs have funnelled huge amounts of cash to top enforcement officials.
Allegedly paid not to do their jobs and duties were senior officials from the police, army and anti-drug department in the Kachin area. The notebooks, seen by outside groups including the foreign NGO Global Witness, show payments and payoffs to authorities totalling $500,000 -- around 17.8 million baht. Myanmar has so far refused to comment.
If there was anyone who still doubted the corruption, cruelty and misery that flows from the top of the drug business, Saturday's events in Bangkok should convince them otherwise. Police arrested four Japanese men allegedly involved in the international drug trade. An especially nasty series of revelations then occurred.
Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) agents arrested the Japanese at a Ratchadaphisek department store. In that public area, the agents say, they seized 2.2kg of crystal methamphetamine, known as ya ice, a loaded 9mm pistol and extra ammunition. The arrest was a sting operation, where the Japanese man was allegedly selling the crystal meth for 1.7 million baht. The suspected Japanese pusher offered to give the agents the money and the drugs in return for his release, the arrest report states.
At that point, it got even worse. According to the NSB report, three more Japanese men suddenly emerged and offered the agents another one million baht. After interrogating the four men, police said they believe they are just part of a well-oiled drug trafficking syndicate. It is run by Japanese and, if the agents have their facts straight, is deeply involved in international drug and human trafficking. Members allegedly have direct ties to the gangs that send Thai women overseas to smuggle drugs, both out of and into Thailand.
More than 200 of the women have been arrested overseas, according to the police. Some, in Vietnam and China, are on death row. Just when people might think it can't get more vicious or degrading, it does. The NSB agents said there is strong evidence that many of the Japanese gang members have local wives or "minor wives" who are involved in this business. These Thai women are used to lure other women into this dirty affair.
It is distressing that such cruel activities depend upon the illegal drug factories and smuggling gangs based in Thailand's next-door neighbour, Myanmar. But last week's action by Kachin citizens reveals evidence of a far more serious allegation. The strong evidence from Hpakant and the righteous Kachin indicates that one of more of the heroin and methamphetamine gangs has high-ranking government protection.
Myanmar's reaction to this extremely serious matter should be watched carefully -- not just by the Thai government but by all citizens who are concerned about curing the national disease of drug trafficking.