“Manweng Long has been a center for drug trading for sometimes. As the Burmese police force and Kachin army officials have turned blind eyes on illicit drug trades, drug addicts and abusers have been increased day by day. Highly demanded drugs which is most popular in the market is yaba or methamphetamine tablets,” Sai Ai, a native of Mangweng told SHAN.

The average ages of drug users are between 13 and 35 in range, in which mostly are Shan and Kachin youths. As the drug users have been increasing, subsequently, thefts and robberies are common in the area. People who sell drugs are also drug addicts and users vice versa, said Sai Ai.

“Manweng Long drug selling point is in King Swe Kham’s garden in the rear of Myanmar Police station. The drug traders and users do not care if even the owner of the garden told them to leave his premises. Myanmar authorities and village administrator have turned blind eyes on the cases. Until present, the illicit drugs are being traded freely,” Pa Ei, a native lady from Manweng Long told SHAN.

Occasionally, the regional authorities would come to cease the drug users and traders, but they mostly took only motorcycles or money and some other valuable things, and those drug abusers would be freed shortly. Since a year ago, during Burma army and KIA (Kachin Independent Army) were at wars, drug traders and users have been increased in many folds, said the locals.

Similarly, Wan Kawngsa village in Namkham township, Shan State bordering with Manweng Long in Kachin State, has become a drug selling point, said the local sources.