Eighteen guns seized from three arms smugglers

by Ko Wild

Friday, 06 February 2009 18:51

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Three arms smugglers were arrested in possession of 18 guns in the northern Thai-Burma border towns of Tachileik and Mae Sai last week, according to sources. Burmese police force personnel searched Sai Win Min and Aung Aung at the Mae Yang checkpoint on January 29 on the Tachileik-Kengteng Road and found M 16 ammunitions in their possession. This in turn led to another seizure of 11 M 16 guns and two .22 guns near the artillery battery in Tachileik, a local resident on the Thai-Burma border said. Following interrogation of the duo, drug enforcement agencies from two countries jointly searched a house in Param Ward, Mae Sai and found over 10,000 rounds of M16 ammunition from Sai Aung Htwe on February 4, a local resident from Mae Sai said. The local authorities blacked out the news as the Burmese Army seems to be involved in this gun running case, a local resident who is close to army circles said. "The civilians who are not the prime-suspects were arrested on February 1 at about 10 p.m. Five persons were arrested and one is still at large. A lieutenant is involved in this case and I heard that he is being held in the LIB 331 lockup. The Triangle Command Commander also visited this place in connection with the case," he said. The officials concerned of the two countries suspected that the arms and ammunitions are in exchange for narcotic drugs from a gang operating in Meng Ko, Meng Phyat area. < Prev   Next >