Illegal drug possessor gets five years

YANGON, 31 May - The Lashio Township Court handed down a sentence of five years' imprisonment on a drug possessor on 10 February 1999. Members of Lashio Township Police Force, acting on information, searched Lauk Pauk, 23, of Ward 5, Lashio at 11.35 am on 17 December 1998 and found 0.00025 kg of heroin on him. Action was taken against him according to Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law. The court handed down three years' imprisonment under Section 15 and five years' imprisonment under Section 16 (C) under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law to serve concurrently.

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Drug trafficker gets 5 years

YANGON, 30 May - Members of Lashio Township Myanmar Police Force, acting on information, searched Kin Sone, 30, son of U Yu Ohn, of Ward 2, Lashio, on 2 December 1998 and seized 0.00025 kilo of heroin from him.

On 10 February 1000, he was sentenced by Lashio Township Court to three years' imprisonment and under Section 15 of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law and five years' imprisonment under Section 16 of the law to serve concurrently.

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Illegal drug possessors get five years

YANGON, 29 May - The Lashio Township Court handed down a sentence of five years' imprisonment on a drug possessor on 10 February 1999. Members of Lashio Township Police Force, acting on information, searched Tun Thein, 45, of Ward 1, Lashio at 5 pm on 23 December 1998 and found 0.0005 kg of heroin.

Action was taken against him in accord with Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law. The court handed down five years' imprisonment under Section 15 and three years' imprisonment under Section 16 (C) on him to serve concurrently.

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Drug trafficker sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment

YANGON, 28 May - Members of Tachilek Township Myanmar Police Force acting on information searched the house of Nan Lone, 32, daughter of U Lone Kyine, Pakaw Village, Mongphone (B)

Village-track Tachilek Township, on 1 May 1998 and seized 2,000 stimulant tablets. She was tried under Section 19(A) of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law and sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment on 26 February 1999 by Tachilek District Court.

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Illegal drug possessor gets Ten years

YANGON, 25 May - The Kawthoung District Court handed down a sentence of ten years' imprisonments on two drug possessors on 5 January 1999.

Members of Bokpyin Township Police Force, acting on information, searched the house of Kyi Than, 28, and Ma Me Tone (a) Ma Hta Yee, 32, of Chaungkahyet Village, Boke-pyin Township, at noon on 16 July 1998 and found 0.03266 kilo of marijuana.

Action waw taken against the two under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law.

The court handed down 10 years' imprisonment under Section 19 (A) and five years' imprisonment under Section 15 (C) on Kyi Than to serve concurrently and ten years' imprisonment under Section 19 (A) on Ma Me Tone (a) Ma Hta Yee.

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Illegal drug possessor gets six years

YANGON, 24 May - The Monyin Township Court handed down a sentence of six years' imprisonment on drug possessor on 27 January 1999.

Members of Monyin Township Police Force, acting on information, searched the farmhouse of Labyaku, son of U Labya Saingnaung, Ae' Lon Village, Monyin Township, at 6 pm on 24 November 1998 and found 0.01 kg of heroin.

He was tried under Section 15/16 (C) of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law and sentenced to six years' imprisonment.

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Man gets imprisonment for possession of drugs

YANGON, 23 May - Myanmar Police Force of Mohnyin Township, acting on information, searched the house of Hla Hsaing, 42, son of U Kwan Jut of Theinin Ward, Mohnyin Township, on 9 November 1998 and arrested him together with 0.0002 kilo of heroin. Action was taken against him under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law. The Mohnyin Township Court handed down a sentence of six-year imprisonment under Section 15/16 (C).

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Man gets 6 years' imprisonment for possession of drugs

YANGON, 22 May - The Monyin Township Court passed a sentence of six years' imprisonment on a drug possesser on 27 January.Regional Police Force members acting on information searched Po Pya (a) Myo Myint of Ywathit Village, Monyin Township, who was in a car with number plate La/ 708 at the toll gate and found 0.0005 kilo of heroin from him on 23-11-98.

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Man gets six years for possession of drugs

YANGON, 20 May - Monyin Township Court handed down a sentence of six years' imprisonment on a man on a man on 11 January 1999.

Members of Monyin Township Police Force and Te Pu Village Union Solidarity and Development Association, acting on information, searched the house of Win Oo, 31, son of U San Hla, Te Pu Village, and uncovered 0.00025 kg of heroin at 9 pm on 21 October 1998.

He was tried under Section 15/16 (C) of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law and sentenced to six years.

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Drug trafficker sentenced to 8 years

YANGON, 17 May - The South Okkalapa Township Court passed a sentence of eight years  imprisonment on a drug trafficker on 16 January 1999. Regional Police Force members searched Myo Myint, 29, son of U Kyaw Soe, of 23rd Street, Ward C, Latha Township, at Ward 5, South Okkalapa Township at 1.40 pm on 29 August 1998 and found the heroin weighing 0.136 gm on him. He was tried under Section 15/16 (C) of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law and sentenced to eight years imprisonment under section 15/16 (c).

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Man gets 10 years' imprisonment for possession of drugs

YANGON, 16 May - A man was given 10 years' imprisonment by Deputy Division Judge's Court, Yangon Division, on 13 January 1999, for possession of marijuana weighing 115.09 grams. Seikkan Township Police Force members seized the marijuana when they were searching the room of Soe Htay, 36, on board the Aungdagun-5 ship on 17 September 1998. The police booked him under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law and sent the case to the court.

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Drug trafficker gets eleven years

YANGON, 15 May - Assistant Divisional Judge's Court, Yangon passed a sentence of eleven-year imprisonment on a drug trafficker on 28 January 1999. Members of special anti drug squad of Yangon, who acted on information, searched No 452, Theinbyu Road. Hpomyay Ward Mingalataungnyunt Township and seized Ma Naing Naing Soe, 31, for possession of 17.9622 grams of heroin at 12.45 pm on 30 June 1997. She was tried under Section 19 (A)of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law and sentenced to eleven year imprisonment under section 19.

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Drug-user given three and five years imprisonment

YANGON, 14 May - Members of Lashio Special Anti-Drug Squad, on information, arrested Pho Lon (a) Win Naing Oo, 27, son of U San Tun of Ward 7, Lashio, on 23 September 1998, together with 0.00001 kilo of heroin. Action has been taken against him under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law. The Lashio Township Court handed down a sentence of three year imprisonment under Section 15 and a sentence of five year imprisonment under Section 16 (C) on the culprit to serve concurrently on 13 January 1999.

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Drug trafficker gets three years

YANGON, 13 May - The South Okkalapa Township Court handed down a sentence of three years' imprisonment on a drug traffickers on 19 January 1999.

The case was that acting on a tip-off, regional Police Force members searched one Hla Win, 29, son of U Maung San of No 71, Thura Lane, Ward 9, Mayangon Township, at the corner of 21st Street and Thayaykhittaya Street, Ward 5, South Okkalapa Township at 9.45 am on 21-1-98 and found 0.612 gm of heroin on him. He was tried under Section 15 of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law and sentenced to three years under section 19.

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Imprisonment given to drug trafficker

YANGON, 12 May - The Court in Lashio passed a sentence of ten-year imprisonment on a drug trafficker on 11 January 1999. Lashio Police Force arrested Zaw Aung, 30 son of U Zaw Nan, Ward 5, Lashio, together with 0.0245 kilos of heroin on 26 November 1998. The court heard the case against him under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law, Section 19 ( A).

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Narcotic Drugs control in Myanmar clarified

YANGON, 10 May - The 20th ASEAN Chiefs of Police Conference hosted by the Union of Myanmar for the first time successfully ended at Traders Hotel on Sule Pagoda Road this morning.

At the conclusion of the conference, Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control clarified narcotic drugs control in Myanmar at 11.15 am today.

Present were Chairman of Central Committee for holding of the 20th ASEAN Chiefs of Police Conference Director-General of Myanmar Police Force Police Maj-Gen Soe Win, member of CCDAC Head of Office of Strategic Studies of the Ministry of Defence Col Kyaw Thein, police officers of MPF, Police Directors-General of ASEAN nations, deputy directors-general and delegates, delegates of INTERPOL, officials of ASEAN Secretariat, Patron of Myanmar Foreign Correspondents Club U Sein Win, President of FCC U Sao Kai Hpa and correspondents, Director (News) of News and Periodicals Enterprise U Hla Tun, Chief Editor of Myanma News Agency (Internal) U Zaw Min Thein, officials and guests.

Director (International Relations) of CCDAC Police Col Kham Aung and member of CCDAC Head of Office of Strategic Studies of the Ministry of Defence Col Kyaw Thein clarified narcotic drug control in Myanmar.

Their clarification is as follows:

Although Myanmar is included as a part of the infamous Golden Triangle and alleged as a major drug producing country, few people really understand the underlying background and complexity of the drug problem except what they read in the media.

Myanmar has waged a relentless war on illicit drugs since regaining her independence in l948. Successive Governments took measures to eradicate cultivation of poppy but were largely ineffective and unsuccessful due to internal insurgency problems since independence.

Myanmar fully recognizes the threat posed to mankind by narcotic drugs and the paramount need to eliminate the problem. Accordingly, the highest political level of the government gives its full attention and priority on drug matters, laying down consistent policy to combat this menace. The government is determined to eradicate poppy production and permanently restructure the economy of the opium producing areas in the country, and is therefore stepping up activities to obtain this ultimate objective.

This is not just empty words. If we look at this graph provided by the US Opium Yield Survey Team, comparing cultivation in East Asia during 1998 and 1999, you will notice there is a decrease of 31% and also 38% drop in the production in Myanmar. This is quite close to our figures when we conducted a Baseline Data collection in the same years.

Myanmar became a state party to the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs as of 29 July 1963. Myanmar also is a signatory to the 1998 Convention against Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances.

Various national races of the hill regions in the border areas is engaged in poppy cultivation, which is their only means of livelihood. Providing them an alternative cultivation crop to survive, looking after their basic needs; bringing about a change of attitude and start a new way of life require special progammes. Throughout our history until recently, those border areas remained undeveloped owing to communication difficulties.

The situation got worse after independence when the production of drugs and their trafficking linked with the internal insurgency problem. The main areas of cultivation and production, Kokang and Wa areas were under the domination of the Burma Communist Party (BCP) from the early sixties until 1989. It was only in March and April 1989 that Kokang and Wa national groups split with the BCP and revolted against them. joining hands with the Government, they eventually succeeded in liberating these areas from the stranglehold of the BCP.

The most significant events are the coming into the legal fold of insurgent groups and unconditional surrender of U Khun Sa and his Mong Tai Army. Up to now 17 armed groups have made peace and are working all out under government sponsorship in all-round regional development projects on an unprecedented scale. They chose to abandon armed struggle and joined hands with the government in launching development programmes in these far-flung areas. Prior poppy cultivation areas and trafficking routes, which were under the insurgents' control, are now under the administration of the government.

In the past, it had been our strategy to focus mainly on the destruction of poppy fields. After 1988, the Myanmar Government realized that law enforcement efforts alone could not stop the flow of drugs but need to be coupled with a long term programme that will improve the standard of Living of the local populace, especially the poppy farmers.

Therefore, the following strategy was laid down;

—the Designation of narcotic drug eradication as a national duty and the comprehensive implementation of that strategy.

—the development and enhancement of the standard of living of the national races in the border areas and total eradication of poppy cultivation. The following tactics and integrated approach are also carried out simultaneously;

—supply reduction, demand reduction,and law enforcement

—integrated border areas and national races development programme.

—nationwide programme for the suppression of narcotic drugs.

The Government committed new and additional resources with increased budgetary allotment for rural development, law enforcement, prevention efforts, education, treatment and rehabilitation programmes. Vigorous law enforcement and increased interdiction efforts are also stepped up. As the insurgency problem in the border areas were steadily being overcome, actions have been taken to educate and encourage the local nationalities to change their way of living of depending only on the cultivation of opium poppy for their livelihood.

Development of the border areas and national races was initiated on May 25, 1992 with the formation of a Central Committee and work is underway in the border,area States and Divisions, which encompasses 5.4 million inhabitants. This endeavour to develop the border areas and national races has now been assumed by the Ministry for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs as the State's major undertaking. The total expenditure up to January 2000 is over 18 billion Kyats. Fund allocations are from the State budget. The comprehensive infrastructure plans include road and bridge construction and projects in the education, health, energy, agriculture, forest, livestock breeding, telecommunication and mining sectors.

The ethnic national races to get rid of opium and drugs embarked on their own programmes in their special regions. The first region to establish on OPIUM FREE ZONE is the Special Region 4 of the eastern Shan State in 1997. Kokang Region is following with a pledge to be free of drugs by the end of this year 2000. Wa Region pledges to be free of opium cultivation by 2005.

The Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC) has under it the Law Enforcement Sector. There are I9 anti-Narcotics Units located around the country under the Myanmar Police Force, which is the main agency for law enforcement. The Armed Forces, the Customs Department and the local populace have fully coordinated to combat the menace of narcotic drugs and successes have been achieved to a commendable extent. Although Myanmar is included in the infamous "Golden Triangle", and the fact that the poppy cultivation areas and clandestine heroin refineries are situated along the borders with China, Laos and Thailand, it cannot be denied that opium and its derivatives morphine and heroin are normally trafficked out directly across the borders to the international market. So it is readily deduced that the seizures are meant for the domestic market. However, it is also possible that a certain precursor chemicals is mainly trafficked illegally across the borders from neighbouring countries. All major seizures were made in the northeast and eastern borders of Myanmar. Prior to the 1990s, precursor chemicals also came in illegally across the India border, but no major seizures were made up to 1997. But starting 1998; 839.67 kib6 and in 1999, up to October,3415.81Kilos of ephedrine were seized on the borders with India. Illicit ephedrine trafficking across the China border into Myanmar were also seized only after law enforcement officers were trained and equipped v to identify essential precursors.

In Myanmar, psychotropic substances abuse was limited to tranquilizers and most of it were opium and its derivatives. Although methamphetamine has been a serious drug problem in the sub-region and region for over a decade, it was unknown to Myanmar until 1996. Information and intelligence sharing with neighbouring countries in 1994/95 on illicit ephedrine trafficking from China and the manufacture of methamphetamine tablets at the border areas led to seizures of millions of stimulants in the subsequent years. All the major seizures were made in Shan State bordering China and Thailand on their way to the Thai market. To prevent and control illicit diversion of precursors the CCDAC has formed a Precursor Control Committee in 1998 with the Deputy Director General of Police chairing the Committee. 8 chemicals are already under control while another 12 chemicals are to be notified as controlled chemicals in the very near future.

In accordance with the Narcotics Law, 428.10 million Kyats has been confiscated as assets and proceeds from drug crimes since 1993 to March 2000. In consonance with the resolution of the 17th Special Session of the UN General Assembly to take cooperative measures at international, regional and sub-regional levels, Myanmar is actively engaged in sub-regional cooperation in drug abuse control with China, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam with technical and financial assistance from UNDCP. As a result of the agreement already signed, alternative development programmes emphasizing on

crops substitution and integrated rural development have been under way since June 1992 Myanmar signed bilateral agreement; for cooperation with India on 30 March 1993, with Bangladesh on 1 December 1994, with Vietnam on 12 March 1995, with the Russian Federation on January 1997, with Laos on 29 March 1997 and with the Philippines on 15 October 1997 to control drug trafficking and abuse.

The Union of Myanmar, with the objective of total elimination of cultivation, production and abuse of narcotics within the whole country is implementing a 15year narcotics elimination plan starting 1999. The long range plan is divided into three phases. The first phase is from 1999 2000 to 2003-2004, the second from 2004-2005 to 2008 2009 and the third from 2009-2010 to 2013-2014. The plan is multi-sectoral and the designated activities are the elimination of production of opium poppy, the elimination of the abuse of narcotic drugs, law enforcement, organizing the local populace to participate in the fight again5t narcotic drugs and international cooperation. The total budget for the whole plan is estimated at 3358.136 million Kyats and 150 million US$.

Myanmar has been carrying out The enormous task of eliminating the scourge of mankind relying mainly on her own resources. However well conceived and executed her efforts may be, they cannot be effective in dealing decisively with the menace of narcotic since the drug production and trafficking problems originate in remote and difficult terrain in the border areas. However limited the resources of the Myanmar Government may be, its commitment and dedication to carry through the task of totally eradicating this national and intentional scourge remains unwaveringly firm. The much lower level of inflow of external assistance has neither diminished Myanmar's determination nor her efforts to further the programmes already laid down and being implemented. Myanmar will continue to give top priority to overcoming the threat posed to the stability and well-being of the country and the intentional community at large. It is hoped that more and more countries will join hands with Myanmar in this noble endeavor.

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20th ASEAN Chiefs of Police Conference opens
SEA region faces common problem  of production trafficking and sale of narcotic drugs

YANGON, 8 May - The opening ceremony of the 20th ASEAN Chiefs of Police Conference hosted by the Union of Myanmar for the first time was held at the Traders Hotel on Sule Pagoda Road this morning, with an address by Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing.

Also present were Chief Justice U Aung Toe, Chief Attorney-General U Hla Tun, Deputy Minister for Finance and Revenue Brig-Gen Than Tun, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Khin Maung Win, Deputy Minister for Information Brig-Gen Aung Thein, Deputy Minister for Immigration and Population U Maung Aung, Ambassadors of ASEAN members, military officers, Chairman of Central Committee for Organizing of .he 20th ASEAN Chiefs of Police Conference Director-General of Myanmar Police Force Police Maj-Gen Soe Win and members, officials of Work Committee and Sub-committees, Police Director-General of Brunei Darussalam Dato Paduka Seri Hj Yaakub Bin Pehin Orang Kaya Maharaja Daraja Dato Paduka Hj Zainal and delegates, Police Director-General of Cambodia Pol Lt-Gen Hok Lundy and delegates, Police Director-General of Indonesia Pol Lt-Gen Dr Rusdihardjo and delegates, Police Director General of Laos People's Democratic Republic Pol Maj-Gen Soutchay Thammasith and delegates, Deputy Police Director-General of Malaysia Dato Mohd Jamil Bin Johari and delegates, Director-General of Myanmar Police Force Police Maj-Gen Soe Win and delegates, Police Deputy Director-General of the Philippines Reynaldo Wycoco and delegates, Police Director-General of Singapore Mr Khoo Boon Hui and delegates, Police Director-General of Thailand Pol Gen Pracha Promnog and delegates, Police Director-General of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Mr Truong Huu Quoc and delegates, delegates of INTERPOL officials of the ASEAN Secretariat, officials of departments under the Ministry of Home Affairs, senior police officers of MPF, departmental officials, "Patron of Myanmar Foreign Correspondents and U Sein Win, Chairman of FCC U Sao Kai Hpa and correspondents, Director (News) of News and Periodicals Enterprise Minister for Transport inspects waterways and port development U Hla Tun, Chief Editor of Myanma News Agency (International ) U Zaw Min Thein, official and guests. MPF Band played the national anthem of the Union of Myanmar. Those present paid tribute to ASEAN police officers who had fallen,while performing duties. Minister Col Tin Hlaing delivered an address. He said;

In conclusion, I should like to submit to you that transnational crimes, including narcotic drug problems, cannot be solved by one country alone. With each passing day, it has become imperative that States individually and collectively with its neighbors, sub-regionally, regionally and internationally must co-operate to address these problems.

I wish to urge all to collectively strive for a peaceful, stable, and all-round developed world without let or hindrance, for the benefit of future general believe, that your deliberations at this meeting will be frank and fruitful, and that they will promote friendly relations, mutual trust and confidence, among members of the ASEAN Police Force, which in essence, will be for the  benefit of all mankind. I wish you all the best in your deliberation to make the Twentieth Conference of ASEANAPOL come to a successful conclusion. Last but not the least, I wish to conclude by wishing you all a happy an pleasant stay while in Myanmar. Minister Col Tin Hlaing had photo taken together with Police Director General and Deputy Police Director-General of ASEAN nations.

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Narcotics eradication task being carried out with profound and broad consideration as it concerns with political, economic and social sectors and sincere national races Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control held year 2000 meeting

YANGON, 4 May -The Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control held the year 2000 meeting at the Ministry of Home Affairs this afternoon with an address by Secretary-l of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.

Secretary-1 said Myanmar still has to solve the problems of the evil legacy left behind intentionally by the colonialists; and the problem of narcotic drugs is included in the forefront of the legacy.

The government is trying to totally eradicate narcotic drugs as a national task because the problem of illicit drugs not only tarnishes the image of the nation and social norms but also threatens the entire mankind on the earth.

To carry out the tasks and implement the projects of CCDAC (Central), which is playing a leadership role at the national level in eradicating the problem of narcotics, is a national need.

The 20th ASEAN Police Chiefs Meeting and the meeting of the heads of anti-narcotics organizations will be hosted in Myanmar this year The nation has conducted opium survey for six times in cooperation with the United States. According to the survey, opium yield has declined significantly for three consecutive years beginning 1997; poppy cultivation areas have shrunk to 8,950 hectares in 1999 which is 31 per cent less than in the previous year; opium production in that year was only 1,090 metric tons which is 38 per cent less than in the previous year. It is the lowest output within a ten year period since 1988.

However, the US is criticizing Myanmar about narcotic drugs in connection with politics, the Intentional Narcotics Control Strategy Report issued by the US for 1999 shows facts and figures about the decrease in cultivation of poppy and results of narcotic drugs control in Myanmar, her cooperation with neighboring nations. the flow of precursor chemicals necessary for production of narcotic drugs into Myanmar through neighbouring nations and the plans for eradication of narcotic drugs formulated by the government. It is found that the name of U Sai Lin, the leader of Special Region No 4 of Shan State (East), has already been taken of-f the list of those including national races leaders who are accused of trafficking in narcotic drugs.

The Secretary-General of the UN assigned a duty to Director-General Mr Pino Arlacchi of United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention (UNODCCP) to study measures for control of narcotic drugs in Myanmar, and he proposed a ten-year plan for eradication of narcotic drugs in Myanmar, which has not yet got off the ground

Based on the base line data collected in 1998, a 15year plan (1999-2014) for eradication of narcotic drugs has been formulated, and it has been implemented since 1999 in 51 townships of Shan, Kachin, Chin and Kayah State.

In conclusion, the Secretary-1 urged departments concerned to successfully carry out the tasks of CCDAC with the aim of wiping off the soil and waters of Myanmar the problem of narcotic drugs, legacy of colonialists, which is casting shadow over the nation.

Then, Chairman of CCDAC Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing reported on implementation of the 15-year Master Plan for eradication of narcotic drugs, collection of base line data, decreases in cultivation of poppy, measures for control and suppression of narcotic drugs, measures for rehabilitation, giving education on danger of narcotic drugs and seminars held abroad and at home. Secretary of CCDAC Director-General of Myanmar Police Force Police Maj-Gen Soe Win reported on progress of work in implementing the decisions passed at the special meeting of CCDAC on 16 January 1999. Afterwards, the Secretary-1 gave instruction on the use of media to inform the nations of the world of efforts for suppression of narcotic drugs, carrying with internationals agreements, livestock breeding work and collection of base line data.

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