Drug investigation, heavy punishment likely for Maung Weik

Mizzima News
03 July 2008

Chiang Mai: Following a secret largest investigation against drug users since 1988, young tycoon Maung Weik stands to face severe punishment for alleged drug trafficking.

Maung Weik, the 35-year old billionaire has been shifted to notorious Insein prison since last Friday from a police investigation centre along with six others from Latha, Dagon and Kyi Myint Dine township, said a source close to the prison authorities and the Home Ministry.

"He (Maung Weik) may even be punished with a 20 year sentence or life imprisonment," he said.

The accused drug kingpin was taken away from his residence in Than Lwin Street, Bahan Township. The police seized a machine for making Yaba or methamphetamine tablets and Kyat 1200 million in a crackdown against drug users among Burma's elite. The police said the racket was run by the Managing Director of Maung Weik and Family Co. Ltd.

Nay Shwe Thway Aung along with top leaders of the miltary junta including Snr. Gen. Than Shwe in a state function.

Aung Zaw Ye Myint the son of retired Lt. Gen Ye Myint and the owner of Yetagon construction company, who is also involved, has been sent to the Wat Thee Kan treatment center due to drug addiction.

The former chief of Special Operation Bureau No.1 Lt. Gen Ye Myint was asked to retire by the junta supremo Senior Gen. Than Shwe following his son's suspected involvement in the controversial drug racket. However, the resignation directive to Ye Myint followed a major reshuffle in the military establishment.

Observers and friends suspect that a top-level conspiracy has been hatched against Maung Weik.

Win Min, a Burmese observer based in Thailand who has contacts in the military said "To my knowledge, Maung Weik is not involved in distributing drugs."

"But Maung Weik and Aung Zaw Ye Myint used drugs at parties together and gave drugs as presents to party-goers including some movie stars," he added.

A businessman in Rangoon said "I honestly do not think Maung Weik will manufacture Yaba. I heard the news but I doubt it."

International drug agencies said Burma is Asia's largest source of methamphetamine pills and synthetic drugs are replacing opium and heroin.

The military junta ruling Burma now, came to power in 1988 after cracking down on pro-democracy protesters. The cash-strapped Burmese junta has been accused of dealing with drug lords and is known to have laundered money for various drug lords including Khun Sa, once one of the world's most wanted men. He was living in Rangoon till he died in October 2007.

Moreover, communists turned drug traffickers, the heavily armed United Wa State Army (UWSA) signed a cease-fire agreement with the military junta in 1989 but they have been operating almost freely producing and trading opium and methamphetamine pills at least in their controlled terrority.

The much-talked about crackdown on the drug racket which also netted Burma's film stars, wealthy businessmen and relatives of men-in-power was believed to be linked with family matters of the country's most powerful man Senior General Than Shwe.

The movie industry suggested said that Nay Shwe Thway Aung (aka) Pho La Pye, 17-years-old, a grandson of Than Shwe was at the centre of the case. The student of Technology University (Western Rangoon) was caught with some drug pills by his family a few months ago which sparked Than Shwe's anger.

Mizzima's investigation reveals that Pho La Pye started using drugs since the last water festival or Burmese traditional New Year celebrations in April. He did not come back home for two days during the water festival and he was said to have used drugs.

The first family blamed drug suppliers and friends who introduced Pho La Pye to drugs.

Not surprisingly, some businessmen lured the beloved grandson with drugs hoping to maintain a relationship with the family of the strongman of Burma. Even though he is just 17, business tycoons including Tay Za take him to massage parlours and other places of entertainment that finally ended up in his using ATS drugs.

It is not clear who supplied drugs regularly to the grandson but later police suspected Maung Weik and Aung Zaw Ye Myint.

Hotel Nikko staff told Mizzima that they used to see Pho La Pya with Tay Za of Htoo Trading Company, one of the richest persons in Burma at the Siam Spa in the hotel.

"All businessmen are trying to befriend Than Shwe's grand children for a good business relationship," a businessman said.

Despite Than Shwe's anger with his grandson using drugs, the order for a crackdown did not come from the Snr. Gen.

The whole affair came to light accidentally when an actress Nandar Hlaing and her groom Zay Thiha invited Gen. Thura Shwe Mann, the number three man in the military hierarchy, for their wedding reception in May this year. Zay Thiha is the son of the owner of May Yeik Nyo hotel and his brother-in-law is the son of Shwe Mann.

A friend of the actress told Mizzima that Shwe Mann asked whether she knew about the cause of the death of one of the most popular actors Dwe, who died from an overdose of drugs. The actress bluntly but politely replied she was not aware of it. Then, Shwe Mann talked about widespread use of drugs among movie stars and talked about his idea to crackdown through the Home Ministry.

On the account of the number three man, a personal assistant of Shwe Mann told his friend, the personal assistant of Maung Oo, the Minister of Home Affairs. Then, Maung Oo, who immediately started investigations.

Although investigations are still on, the military government is tight lipped about it and has denied the investigation is taking place.

"We have not arrested any celebrities nor charged any businessmen in connection with drug abuse," Police chief Khin Yi said during a press conference held in Nay Pyi Taw (Naypyidaw) on ' World Drugs Day'.