Golf balls hit home

No.10 - 11/2006

28 November 2006

Drugs

Golf balls hit home

A pro-junta businessman in Kengtung succumbed after learning the arrest of his daughter who was involved in the failed attempt to smuggle out heroin stuffed in golf balls, SHAN correspondent Zerng Tai reports from the border:

U Makut aka Maung Koke, 60, of Nawnglek village, Quarter # 5, went into a swoon and failed to recover on 8 November after hearing news that his daughter Ah Ying, owner of the Shwe Lucky Restaurant in Rangoon, had been placed under arrest. His remains were entombed 2 weeks later on 22 November at the Kengphawng Chinese cemetery.

Ah Ying former owner of the Mekhong Hotel in Tachilek which was later purchased by the United Wa State Army was said to have organized the operation to smuggle the drug consignment packed in golf balls that were seized by a lucky stroke on 22 October, according to a source close to the family. "One of the balls was accidentally dropped by one of the two woman couriers," he recounted, "The officials thought it queer and opened up to find heroin crammed inside."

It was not known how many golf balls there were, but the source quoted the lawyer handling the case saying the total value of the haul as 500 million kyat ($ 385,000).

Many Kengtung residents were reportedly overjoyed by the news of U Makut's death. "He was close to the military authorities and had forced the locals to sell their lands to him cheap", said a resident.

All sources believe the seized drugs were supplied by the Wa.

According to Pyi Myanmar weekly newspaper, quoted by Bangkok Post on 22 November, Rangoon police seized 46 golf balls destined for Taiwan, each of them containing a small bag of around 25 grammas of heroin. The paper however did not mention the date of the seizure.