In Myitkyina, drug police arrested and beat a young man, extorting 30,000 baht

Mekong, July 24 In Myitkyina Township, Shan State, a police officer from the drug suppression force, identified as Raza, arrested a 21-year-old local youth on suspicion of possessing three "Happy Pods" and demanded 100,000 Thai baht from his family. The family was forced to pay 30,000 Thai baht to retrieve him, according to the family and their acquaintances. When the family could not pay 100,000 baht, the youth was taken to the police station, handcuffed, and beaten, after which the family paid 30,000 baht to get him back, according to the family and their acquaintances. This incident occurred on the evening of May 28th. The police team led by drug suppression officer Raza arrested the youth, claiming he was found in possession of "Happy Pods," and demanded 100,000 Thai baht from his family. When the family could not pay, he was beaten, a person close to the family told Mekong. "If you take someone to the station, you should file a case according to the law. There is no need to handcuff and beat them excessively. This is not the drug suppression force searching for cases according to the law, but licensed robbers demanding money. They take bribes from KTVs and bars in the city and pretend not to see. They don't arrest people who freely use Happy Pods in those places, but instead deliberately frame and arrest ordinary youths like this to extort money," he said. Currently, despite the open use of drugs, including "Happy Pods," in bars and KTVs in Myitkyina town, the drug suppression force has not taken action, receiving bribes and covering it up. Meanwhile, local residents are criticizing drug officer Raza and his team for fabricating cases, beating innocent civilians, and extorting money. #MeKongNews #MyitkyinaTownship #DrugPolice #Extortion #Drugs