Rival gang suppressed by Wa

Rival gang suppressed by Wa 

Drugs 

Border sources reported Tuesday (1 April) that a heroin refinery operated by a militia leader was raided by a Wa column on Sunday (30 March). 

The refinery near Mongjawd village, Pongpakhem Sub-township of Mongton, opposite Chiangmai, was attacked by the Third Battalion, commanded by Yin Kuei-jong and "Kyaw Kyaw", Vice Chief of Staff of the 171th Military Region. Janu, the Mongjawd militia leader, escaped but his partner, Khin Ma Byay, a Lisaw, was captured. 

Khin Ma Byay, 50, was reported as being a drug fugitive known as Pi Lisaw from Piangluang, Wianghaeng District of Chiangmai. 

Among the haul were 13.5 kg of heroin and 210 kg of raw opium. 

Other sources have pointed out two other refineries in the vicinity, one of which is operated by the Wa, were not touched. "It's just a removal of a rival," commented a border patrol police source. 

The Thai media had also reportedly been sought out by the Wa to attend a press conference to be held at Hwe Aw, the Wa headquarters of Wei Hsuehying, Commander of 171th Military Region and also a drug fugitive." They were not able to cross the border at BP-1 (between Chiangmai's Chiangdao District and Shan State's Mongton Township)", said the Bangkok Post reporter. 

"An attempt to whitewash itself," concluded a Thai security official. According to S.H.A.N. sources, there are at least 21 drug refineries in Mongton Township alone, 12 of them under Wa control. 

Update:

Source corrected mistake on Pi Lisaw on 5 April. "The one nabbed by Wa is not him although they were partners. In fact, Pi escaped to the border and inquired whether he could return home to his family in Wianghaeng. hearing he could not, he left again." 

Pi Lisaw enjoy a hilltribe status in Thailand, according to an official document issued to him in 1998. He is officially identified as Ahseupha Janja.