An armed unit in Chinese police uniform has entered Monghsu Township in Shan State to arrest two Kyar Phyant (online gambling) gang leaders from the United Wa State Army (UWSA), according to local sources.
Monghsu locals reported that a group of armed men in Chinese police uniform and members of a local armed group arrived in Mongshu Township in five vehicles on 5 February, reportedly in search of Chen Yanban of the UWSA’s construction department and Sheng Yankui, the district chief of Monglen.
“We are not sure if they are Chinese soldiers or Wa soldiers. They came in five cars and said they were looking for two Kyar Phyant gang leaders. Their search reached as far as Haipa Waterfall. But we don’t know whether they arrested them or not,” said a local from Mongshu Township.
China issued arrest warrants for the two Kyar Phyant gang leaders and UWSA officers on 12 October 2023, with a reward of 100,000 to 500,000 Chinese yuan for information leading to their arrest.
The UWSA announced the dismissal of its two officers from the army on 16 October, after which the Myanmar military junta also issued arrest warrants against them on 18 October.
After the military council handed over ten Kyar Phyant gang leaders from the Kokang region to China on 31 January this year, the UWSA issued arrest warrants for their former military officers. Afterwards, according to locals, arrest warrant posters were seen along the border between China and Myanmar.
The two Shan armies – the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) and the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) – held an annual meeting and announced on 29 January that they would crack down on online financial fraud (Kyar Phyant) in the areas under their control.
Sent by Shan News.