Drug Production and Trafficking by Burma Communist Party (Northeastern Region)
A group led by Thakin Ba Thein Tin, an exiled Central Committee member of the Burma Communist Party attacked the Tatmadaw military bases in the Kokang region, northern Shan State on 1 January 1968. Thereafter the BCP tried to set up base camps in its northeastern military region. With the unrestricted aid given by neighbouring country in terms of cash, material, human resources, arms and ammunition, BCP was able to establish bases in the border areas within 5 years. These bases provided a foothold for the BCP. As poppy was mainly cultivated in these areas, BCP, since its involvement there had been engaged in drug trafficking, and it was able to do it without any difficulty as various armed insurgents in these areas were already doing so.