UWSA fight against drugs

UWSA fight against drugs

MYANMAR: In this rugged region where the blush of opium poppies still smudges mountains, the militia branded as the world's largest drug army is working with Thailand and Myanmar to wipe out narcotics.

The United Wa State Army (UWSA), allied with Myanmar's military junta, controls the surrounding territory where clandestine laboratories also pump out billions of methamphetamine pills mostly destined for Thailand.

But the opium blush is fading thanks to the massive resettlement of Wa farmers and a development project to assist them, while the UWSA insists the mobile labs shifting into ever remoter areas are outside their control.

Senior military officials from Myanmar, Thailand and the UWSA recently rubbed shoulders at the launch of a health centre forming part oder where rice, maize, fruits, macadamia nuts, tea and coffee plantations were raised.

According to official Myanmar figures, the results were successful with a surplus of 60,000 tons of rice produced in 2002. -- AFP