Drug addiction and trade in drugs are on the rise by the day in the Chinese-owned casino in Mai Ja Yang on the Sino-Burma border in the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) controlled areas, a source said.

The alarming increase both in drug abuse and trade is because of the lack of checking and investigations inside the casino by KIO civilians, the source added.

KIO's servicemen, both police and the immigration departments, are responsible for activities in the casino. But the officials are bribed, said a KIO official.

"The KIO's police, which is in charge of the casino, are bribed by the Chinese so they dare not investigate and make checks inside the casino," a KIO official in Mai Ja Yang told KNG.

Earlier, there were no policemen and immigration officials in KIO and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) under the KIO was in charge everywhere in the controlled areas. But now, the KIA does not participate in investigations, the KIO official added.

Given the situation, things could get out of hand and the casino could witness killings. If this happens the KIO's image will be tainted worse than it already is, he added.