Famous illegal cockfighting ring busted in Nyaungdon with over 540 million kyats worth of evidence

It has been reported that a famous cockfighting ring, which had been illegally operating for a long time in Nyaungdon Township, Maubin District, Ayeyarwaddy Region, was raided and busted by police and security forces under the interim government. On September 18, the raid took place inside the compound of a house owned by a person named Kyaw Thu in Zayatkwin village, Natpay village-tract, Nyaungdon Township. Three cockfighting rings, approximately 20 feet by 20 feet each, were set up inside a tent with a roof, measuring about 100 feet in length and 40 feet in width, where illegal cockfighting gambling was being conducted. "This is a cockfighting ring that has to pay bribes of nearly 100 million kyats per month. The Naypyidaw police came and raided it, and the local police also joined in the raid," a source told the Ayeyarwaddy Times. During the raid, a total of 20 perpetrators, including the homeowner Kyaw Thu, were arrested. In addition, evidence worth a total of 5,464,057,000 kyats (over 540 million kyats) was seized, including gambling money amounting to 14,232,000 kyats (over 142 million kyats) used for gambling, chicken crates, 50 vehicle deposit slips, 20 mobile phones, 47 motorcycles, six motor vehicles, and two auto rickshaws. It is known that the cockfighting ring that was busted was a famous one, where even famous artists used to come and gamble. According to some local residents, the ring was operating by paying bribes to the Township Administration Committee, administrators, and police officers at various levels. Currently, the arrested individuals have been charged at the Nyaungdon Myoma Police Station under (P)34/2026 and sections 16(a)/17(a) of the Gambling Law of 2019, and further investigation and legal action are underway.