Light Infantry Battalion 553 found yaba and opium in two Vigo pick-ups that they stopped.

According to a previous report the trucks were owned by Wai Shaw Yin A southern Wa leader from Mongton Township. He also had his house and various businesses including a rubber plantation and a petrol station sealed off by the authorities whilst they carried out their enquiries.

According to other sources who do not wish to be named the drugs and sealed off properties actually belong to U Arr Kwam (aka) U Aik Lee, who Burmese and Wa forces now want to arrest.

According to an unamed source U Aik Lee was loading one of the trucks transporting drugs with cement bags at Mong Twam Village when the army came. He then escaped by running off into a nearby orange orchard.

Another source who did not want to give their name claimed: “The sealed off properties are owned by U Aik Lee, he also owns the Green Land Group petrol station. He is very close to the local authorities and he has been bribing everyone.”

The exact relationship between U Aik Lee and Wai Shaw Yin is unknown, but sources close to both men say that U Aik Lee was working for Wai Shaw Yin.

According to another unconfirmed source U Aik Lee has now escaped to Thailand.

An unnamed villager from Nar-Koung-Muu village said: “It is unbelievable that U Aik Lee escaped. He was there when they all came from Mongton Village but he managed to escape in a nearby orange orchard, how did he manage to escape if he did not pay a bribe.

Sai Aik Kham who uses the nearby Border Point 1 (BP1) to Thailand said: “They [the border authorities] should be checking travellers who are using the border, they need to check ID documents. They said they would know if he tried to cross in a car because they have his picture. In this situation his escape is suspicious.”

Translated by Aung Myat Soe English version written by Mark Inkey for BNI