Combating Drug Trafficking :Transfer of wanted drug fugitive

Myanmar Police Force conducted an international investigation, in cooperation with the Royal Malaysia Police and narcotics control agencies of Singapore and Indonesia. The joint efforts led to the arrest of wanted narcotics fugitive U Wai Tun in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam, on September 24. According to the Myanmar Police Force, U Wai Tun, the owner of William Tun Company from Nyaung Pin Tha Village, Hmawby Township, was involved in a transnational drug trafficking case through Myanmar’s sea route and fled the country. On July 6, authorities seized 500 kilograms of Ice Methamphetamine from two suspects near Taung Sin Aye Village in Lewe Township. Further investigation led to the seizure of 10 suspects with another 310 kilograms of methamphetamine aboard the Miba Metta vessel near the Yangon River in Dala Township, bringing the total seizure to 810 kilograms, worth about 20 billion kyats. U Wai Tun fled to Malaysia on June 25 and subsequently travelled from Malaysia to Singapore and then by air to Viet Nam on August 9. Following international cooperation and information sharing, he was arrested in Ho Chi Minh City on September 24 and transferred to Myanmar through Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi. The Myanmar Government is treating drug control as a national priority and is strengthening cooperation with international partners to identify, arrest and transfer fugitives involved in transnational drug crimes. In 2026, Myanmar also transferred 11 fugitives wanted by Thailand and one fugitive wanted by Indonesia for drug-related offences to their respective countries.