Small drug shops forced to close

Small drug shops forced to close 

Drugs 

Several mini-refineries across the border from Chiangmai that had closed shop since April have yet to be re-opened even as the season's first crop of opium is being harvested, said Lerntawng, S.H.A.N. correspondent on the border. 

At least six of them in Mongton Township, opposite Chiangmai, Chiangdao District, have remained inactive, although large refineries owned by bosses close to the military continue to operate unabated. "For instance, no one's going to stop Chao Ching's lab near Wanhong (in the neighboring Monghsat Township) and Li Shin's at Hwe Khailong (east of Mongton),"said an insider source. 

Chao Ching is reportedly close to the Wei brothers. Sources say the seizure in Chiangmai's Phrao District on 7 November had originated from one of his laboratories. 

In the meantime restrictions on small scale operators appear to have become more severe. "Prices have gone down: opium to 10,000 baht per joy(1.6kg), heroin to 110,000 baht per block and yaba (methamphetamine) to 4.5 baht per pill," said the same source. "Still there are few purchasers." 

One of the small timers from Kunhing, west of the Salween, who had been waiting in vain in Mongton for some refinery operators to convert his 50 joy of opium into heroin had already given up his dream of getting rich quick. What he had in mind now was to cut his losses. "He has offered to sell his opium wholesale at the rate of 6,000 baht per joy," said another source. "Still there is no one to buy his goods. In the end, he'll be lucky to get of this in one piece, because the government will do what it can to squeeze out the small fish." 

According to local professional estimates, at least two tons of last year's opium are still stuck in the two townships, Mongton and Monghsat, as this year's yield is being scraped off their pods. 

"Both the Burmese and the big fish want to get rid of petty operators," said another insider source. "What they do does not help the government except to tarnish its image in the eyes of the world. Big operators, on the other hand, can keep the government in good financial stead during its hard times." 

Poppy fields are twice as big this year as last year's, confide several sources. Official interference is their least worry. "In Mongpu Long (north of Mongton in Mongpiang Township) where we live," said a farmer, "we have 320 families. Each pay 5,000 kyat to the local commander and nobody touches us." 

"Our only hope now is that the rains don't come before we scrape off the milky sap," he said. He would worry about the price later, he added.