1 February 2010: A poppy field in Chin State was destroyed by the Burmese police, in the first week of January.

The poppy field was located 20 miles from Cikha sub-town in Tonzang township of Chin state. It was destroyed by the Burmese police based in Cikha sub-town, a local said.

"An acre of poppy field, 20 miles west of Cikha Town was totally destroyed by the police," said a local.

Poppy cultivation was earlier permitted by the Burmese military regime but the field was destroyed after all the seeds were taken away, added the local.

"As far as I know, all the poppy seeds were taken away in December last year, and the plants were cut down. There were no poppy to be destroyed when the police arrived," he added.

A local from Phaisat village in Tonzang District said “the poppy seed is taken out in December and January each year".

The regime is currently growing 2000 acres of poppy in Tedim and Tonzang district of Chin State. It has ordered many local people to shift to other places to facilitate extension of poppy fields.

The current market price of raw opium from Chin state is about Kyat ten lakh per kilogram.

Earlier, raw opium produced from these areas was bought by Chinese traders and Indian opium smugglers.  

The regime had set up an opium refinery factory in November, 2009 in western Tamu, 20 miles from Tamu town in Sagaing Division in Burma.