United Wa State Army (UWSA) and a gang of drug smugglers exchanged fire in Lwelhtway valley near Namyoon Village, Hwayaw Township at about 11 am on October 1, and UWSA seized two bodies and eight smugglers, 1.8 million WY stimulant pills and one gun from the drug smuggling gang, Nyi Ran, liaison officer from Lashio-based UWSA.   

Acting on information that a drug smuggling ring would smuggle narcotics into Thailand by passing through southern military area (171) of Wa Self-Administered Division, a combined team comprising UWSA (171) troops, anti-drug squad and  local police troops started plans to lay in wait along the route on September 10, according to the Facebook post written by Nyi Ran on his account. 

On October 1, 20 days after the plan, troops on patrol found a suspicious-looking group in the valley and fighting occurred after the smuggler group started firing with M-16 guns. 

From the drug trafficking gang, eight people, including one injured man, two bodies, 1.8 million WY tablets and one gun were seized. But the remaining smugglers managed to flee to Thai area. 

The arrestees are Myanmar citizens who are now being questioned by UWSA. 

"We found them in the valleys near a Myanmar army camp and villages. UWSA (171) found them. Some of them fled to Thailand. We have difficulty going there. They are Myanmar citizens. As they were arrested yesterday only, we are still questioning them," said Nyi Ran. 

He said he would coordinate with others as to whether the arrestees will be handed over to the government. 

"In the past we handed over those we arrested to the government. This time, we will have to coordinate  with our leaders," he said. 

There have been frequent arrests of drug smugglers in the region by UWSA (171).