Illicit drug crimes increasing in Mon State

The Superintendent Office of the Mon State Police Department revealed criminal cases related to illicit drug trading have increased in Mon State. In 2018, the Mon State police confiscated over 1.47 billion Kyats worth of drugs and arrested 723 drug traffickers. There is a clear gender disparity among those involved in the trade, with men making up almost 90 percent of 2018 drug arrests. The number of drug related arrests is up from 480 in 2017 and 415 in 2016.

In 2017, there were 270 drug cases leading to the arrest of 444 males and 36 females. In 2016, there were 283 cases that led to the arrest of 378 males and 37 females. The data from the Mon State Police Department reveals a significant increase in the number of drug related arrests in 2018.

“We found that there are more drug users, and the buying and using of drugs is widespread. Amphetamine drugs are especially popular in Mon State. This year, we arrested 383 men and 47 women totaling 430 people on charges of possession of amphetamine drugs,” said Police Chief Col. Myint Win.

Among the 434 criminal drug cases in 2018, 402 cases involve amphetamines. Other drug related cases involved heroin and crystal meth. About 105 cases of arrest occurred in Thaton District and 329 cases occurred in Mawlamyine District in Mon State. In addition to using amphetamines, more people are also starting to use a type of “leaf” known in Thai as “Bai Kratom.”

Mon State Chief Minister Dr. Aye Zan stressed in a Mon State Parliament meeting that the increase in drug arrests in Mon State requires government action. The Mon State government does not want to have a worsening drug situation.

“Although the (Mon State) government took serious action against drugs, we are still failing with this issue. We just have to stop the situation from getting worse. We have to admit that were not able to handle this issue well,” said Dr. Aye Zan.

The Chief Minister continued that if Buddhist monks, community leaders, and the people in the villages work together to address the situation, it may be possible to get a handle on the drug situation.

Chief of Mon State Prison Department, U Lin Bo Naung, confirmed that an increasing numbers of drug traffickers are put in prison. Other crimes that often stem from drug use are murders, rape and looting. Over 50 percent of crimes are related to drugs.