Whenever, drugs were seized, ceasefire groups were often stereotyped as producers and owners of the products, especially nowadays, because the groups are at loggerheads with Burma’s ruling military junta over its Border Guard Force (BGF) programme, said a high ranking Wa official from Panghsang, on the Sino-Burma border.

“Whenever there is a drug seizure, almost everyone reports most of the time that it comes from the ceasefire groups, particularly the Wa, because we are in need of arms and ammo to defend ourselves  against the Burmese Army,” said the officer who requested not to be named.

The United Wa State Army (UWSA) has been dubbed a terrorist organization with connections to drug trafficking by the United States. Most of its leaders are also wanted by both Thailand and US.

“It is our turn to be the fall guys, like Khun Sa (late leader of the defunct Mong Tai Army) did for us in the past,” he said. “During Khun Sa’s days drugs seized were said to have come from him even though they actually came from the Wa. At that time he was a scapegoat for the Wa.”

“Now all fingers are on us whether or not the drugs come from us.  Maybe we are repaying for what we had done to Khun Sa.”

Meanwhile, the UWSA and its southern ally the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) better known as Mongla have launched a joint operation against drug traders in their controlled regions since 1 August 2010, according to sources from Mongla and Panghsang.

“In August, Mongla alone arrested over 300 people,” said the source returning from Mongla.

Similarly, Panghsang has so far seized over 30 different types of cars mostly owned by Chinese businessmen suspected to be drug dealers, according to a source from Panghsang.

“I saw the cars kept at the Weluwan monastery in Panghsang. Some owners were arrested by the Wa and some escaped,” he said.

A businessman from Shan State East speaking to the Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN) said anyone who wants to sell any kind of drugs must seek the assistance of the junta-backed militia units since the Burmese Army’s relations with the Wa had turned sour over its BGF programme outlined in April 2009. Since then the Burmese Army had showered favour on local militia units.

“The tables have turned now. Not only other dealers, but the Wa as well have to pay militia units for the safe passage of their goods,” he said. “Now most of the drugs (pills, Ice and heroin) are manufactured by militia men. All their yaba pills are copying famous Wa brands.”  

A long drug user in Shan State East’s Tachilek, opposite Thailand’s Mae Sai said the quality of yaba (methamphetamine) is different even though it is similar in appearance.

“If it is a militia product, the colour will be lighter, the pill is softer, has much ash and is not so strong. Moreover, the smell is not as fragrant as the Wa’s,” he said.

According to him, the price between the militias and the Wa’s products is also different in Tachilek markets. One pill of Yaba (methamphetamine) made by Wa is sold for between Baht 42-43 ($1.4-1.43) and the militias’ pill is between Baht 30-33 ($1-1.1).

According to a SHAN source, prices of heroin and ice have also dropped these days. “Only few people are asking to buy and sell heroin,” he said. “The rage now is Ice (crystal methamphetamine).”

Last year heroin was priced at Baht 330,000 ($10,000) for 1 Jin (700 gm) and now it has dropped to Baht 280,000-290,000 ($9,100.34-9,425.36). “It may be also related to the drop in the dollar price,” he said.

The most popular and best selling product now is “Ice”, he said, whose price used to be Baht 800,000- 1 million ($26,000.98-32,501.22) per kilogram, now it is about Baht 520,000 ($16,900.64). “The Ice price in Bangkok is double that of Tachilek and ten times in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

According to him, King Roman Casino, opened in September 2009, on the Thai-Lao border is where drug entrepreneurs meet to make deals. “The areas around here are controlled by Naw Kham. Everyone must pay him protection money to get their goods across. No one dares to touch him because top Burmese Army officers back him.”

SHAN will be releasing its 2009-2010 drug report next week, according to its editor Khuensai Jaiyen.