Officials from relevant departments in Waingmaw Township conducted a clear up operation around a park in front of BEHS-1 School, where drugs are being sold and used.

Officials from the township administration department, fire department, immigration department, soldiers and local elders came together to clear up the area, a witness told Myitkyina News Journal.

“They placed a warning sign after collecting the syringes, garbage and other wastes”, the witness said.

After the coup, that area gradually turned into an illegal drug dealing site as drug users and dealers considered the spot as their marketplace all day and night.

Myitkyina News journal already reported on September 23 that residents were worried about a surging number of drug users and dealers around the park and under the banyan tree close to the Waingmaw BEHS-1 school. The local authorities came to clear up the site a day after the report was published.

There were also rumors that the police themselves, who are supposed to protect the people, are also reselling drugs to the users. The Military Council installed Chief Minister of Kachin State, U Khet Htain Nan warned that serious disciplinary actions will be taken if such kinds of violations were found during investigations.

“At this time, some officials committed bribery. Necessary actions were already taken for these cases. There were many cases of violation of the law in drug related law enforcement departments. We took all the measures if we knew about such incidents. But we can’t do anything about the cases that we don’t know”, U Khet Htain Nan said.

There has been an obvious increase in the use and sale of drugs in Kachin State since the Military staged a coup. In Waingmaw Township, some individuals can be seen using drugs openly on the roads, neighbourhoods and public areas.