Bangkok : A close aide of a Wa ethnic leader was sent to Insein prison last week, according to reliable sources.
Thet Naing, in his forties, the Managing Director of the BME1 night club was arrested in Bangkok by the Thai police and handed over to the Burmese police a few weeks ago.
The Keng Tung court in Shan State issued summons to the henchman of the economic in-charge of the United Wa State Army or Special Region No.2. Thai security personnel cooperated with the arrest.
The BME night club is known for the availability of synthetic drugs such as Ecstasy and Methamphetamine. The arrest may be linked to the on going trial of business tycoon Maung Weik for his involvement in drug distribution and consumption, a Mizzima under-cover correspondent in Rangoon said.
Aung Zaw Ye Myint, the son of an influential former head of the Special Bureau of Operation Gen. Ye Myint and Maung Weik used to go to BME 1 night club on University Avenue, Bahan Township near the detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's residence.
"The BME 1 has special rooms for VIPs, especially for siblings of generals and their girl friends, movie stars and glamourous models, " an insider in the night club revealed to Mizzima.
"Thet Naing, a Chinese Muslim was a nobody until he met Aik Hauk of UWSA and his club started distributing drugs free of cost initially and later started selling it," he said.
Aik Hauk, the son-in-law of UWSA leader Bao You-Xiang, owns several properties in Burma's largest commercial city and former capital including two night clubs in Rangoon i.e BME1 and BME2. The latter is part of the Yangon International hotel in Ahlone Street in Dagon Township.
Since 29 May 2003, UWSA has been labeled as a narcotics-trafficking organization by the United States government and it said to be the largest drug-producing organization in Southeast Asia.
Aung Zaw Ye Myint and Maung Weik once even fought each other at BME1 night club and authorities ordered it to be shut down temporarily after the former filed a case in the police station. Eyewitness said both of them were under the influence of drugs.
Operations were launched against the drug ring leader Maung Weik, a Malaysian national and four other Burmese. They were charged with distribution of drugs and violation of the immigration act and are now facing trial.
Several film stars, singers and models were investigated but all of them were released on parole. However, Aung Zaw Ye Myint, notorious for abusing his father's influence, among friends and businessmen was sent to a rehabilitation centre.
Thet Naing, a resident of Sakawar Street in Dagon Township fled to Hong Kong along with a close colleague Phoe Htay after the police arrested Aung Zaw Ye Myint and Maung Weik in May, said home ministry sources.
Phoe Htay the former dealer of "Without car" – motorcars, which were illegally imported without registration numbers in Mandalay sought refuge in Rangoon when authorities cracked down against cars smugglers.
Meanwhile, the authorities have warned the night-club-going children of high-ranking generals not to hang out after 9 p.m. saying any body who violates and breaks the rule of law during this restricted period will not be protected by the authorities.
