By Ko Paing / MPA
Yangon’s black market drug trade is entirely controlled by gangs with ties to the military regime, according to recent reports.
According to a Yangon-based police source, gangs operating on the outskirts of the city not only serve as Pyu Saw Htee militia members under the military junta’s influence but also run various illegal businesses, including drug distribution, under the regime’s protection.
“Anyone who wants to sell WY (methamphetamine) must pay fees to these gangsters. They have guns, and no one dares to refuse. A portion of these fees goes to local government officials, while the police receive only a small share and are largely ignored,” the source told MPA.
These gangs are also reportedly responsible for eliminating political dissidents and enforcing forced military conscription bans in their territories in coordination with the junta.
“I don’t know about other townships, but in mine, there are at least three or four major gangsters selling drugs. The big suppliers are directly connected to the regime, and no one dares to arrest the lower-level dealers under their network,” said a resident from the Seven Pagodas area in South Okkalapa Township.
He added that small-scale drug retailers must pay protection fees to ward administrators and local police to continue their operations without interference.
The police source further claimed that drug shipments from border areas cannot safely reach Yangon without military junta protection.
