YANGON- Despite tip-offs and complaints about drug dealers, there were no arrests made for some as policemen had let them know in advance, said MP Han Soe from Dawbon Township at the Second Yangon Region Parliament Meeting held yesterday.

MP Nyi Nyi from Dagon Myothit (South) Township urged the Yangon Region Government to combat the use of WY-stamped psycho stimulant tablets which are popular among students and youths.

MP Han Soe said that Township Police members and MPs, together with relevant information teams had to hold the educative talks about the drugs to the students.

“According to the public suggestions, some in organizations seek to further their own ends instead of the organizations. We found that they acted as informers to the drug dealers. For example, Yangon Region Police Force has a hotline phone 199 for the public. Some people will phone about certain drug deals happening and the police force will immediately took action but the dealers received advanced information from some of the police. So, the police force can’t arrest them [dealers],” said MP Han Soe.

MP Han Soe also said that some youths commit suicide due to the drug use. There were various kinds of drugs which were sold with cheap prices in Yangon. They then became drug addicts, leading to loss of control of their actions and desperate acts as committing burglaries during the day.

MP Kyaw Kyaw Tun from Hlaing Township Constituency in Yangon Region also said that the Yangon Region Parliament together with the members from Judicial, Rule of Law and Complaints and Pleas Scrutinizing Committee launched fieldworks in the courts and police stations in 44 Townships of Yangon Region aiming to do check and balance for rule of law sector. The members found that the detainees were mostly youths.

“Mostly youths are on trial for drug related cases and are being detained at the prison-cells. Some were even arrested with possessing miniscule amounts. There are less amount of arrest cases to dealers. and seizures of huge quantity of drugs were always ownerless. There are many drug dealers. Youths can easily buy from them. We would like to urge the government to arrest and take effective action against those drug dealers,” said MP Kyaw Kyaw Tun.

President Win Myint gave first priority over combating of drugs and he also said at the public meeting that the drug use was spreading among the public and it easily spread to the classrooms.