No. 16 - 10/2005
19 October 2005

Drugs

Chinese TV reports on drug bust in Burma

Shan sources on the Sino-Burma border say last month's drug seizure in Burma's Shan State was on yesterday's Chinese TV news coverage:

The owner of the more than 400 kg heroin consignment that was seized in Mongpiang in September was named as U Yong Wan aka Han Yongwan, 45, a native of Panghsai, Muse district, northern Shan State.

He was arrested in Laos following his abrupt departure from Kengtung after the Wa convoy escorting the shipment was intercepted by the Burma Army acting on a tip-off by Chinese authorities. Han had reportedly made the mistake of calling up his wife whose phone was being tapped by the Chinese police.

The report appeared to have cleared Wa involvement except for Ta Pan, commander of Mongyawn-based 2518th Independent Regiment and nephew of Bao Youxiang, Wa supreme leader. Ta Pan, together with two unidentified leaders of the ill-fated drug convoy, are still under custody. The rest, more than 70 of them, have been released, said a source from Kengtung.

Han Yongwan is also the owner of Xing Wanli, a casino at the White Elephant market in Muse, opposite Ruili, that had been closed on request by Chinese authorities. He was known to have been working with several pro-government militia groups, particularly with Hsiao Haw, Kutkhai township.

Bao Youxiang