Authorities raid long-operating gin distilleries that paid licence fees, seizing cars, motorcycles and stills

Long-running gambling rings that paid line fees were raided; cars, motorcycles and motorbikes were also seized

October 6

In Thar Yar Aye village, Thar Yar Waddy township, Bago Region, gambling rings that had been operating for years by paying line fees were raided and arrested by the police force under the junta, it is learned.

At around 2:30 pm yesterday, October 5, while a gambling ring was being run inside the compound of U Ahtit (aka) U Kala and Daw Htay Mar in Thar Yar Aye village, Thar Yar Waddy township, the raid took place, and 8 men and 3 women, 11 people in total, were arrested, it is learned.

"These rings have been operating in rotation since around the end of 2021, early 2022, after the coup. The township gets over 60 lakhs in line fees per week, the house renter gets about 2 lakhs a week, and it also helps with military service fees, so the township administrator and the police have allowed it for a long time. Now that they've taken the line fees, they're just staging a raid for show," said a man who is fond of gambling.

The police force under the junta has stated that they raided only because of a complaint, and it is learned that the gambling rings have been operating for over 5 years, and permission to operate them like festivals has long been granted, so it is no longer unusual among local residents, it is also said.

"No one complained. They probably had a dispute over their own share split between higher and lower levels. People from the township and from other regions came to play. In that area there are betel sellers, noodle sellers, pawnbrokers and everything," said a local resident.

When the raid took place, some of those running the gambling ring fled and escaped, leaving only some bookmakers and cash handlers, and 11 people were arrested, while over 211 lakhs kyats in betting money, 30 motorcycles, 7 private cars and 2 motorbikes were seized, it is learned.

Currently, those arrested are being detained at Thar Yar Waddy Myoma police station, and it is learned that the police who made the arrests are themselves negotiating a price of 60 lakhs per person for bail, and owners of the seized motorcycles, cars and motorbikes have also been threatened that they must come and be arrested, and that if they do not come and surrender, the items will be confiscated as state property, it is learned.

MyoTaw News Channel