The Myanmar delegation led by Chief of Myanmar Police Force (MPF) Police Lt-Gen Win Zaw Moe of Ministry of Home Affairs attended the 18th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime and its related meetings (18th AMMTC) in Vientiane, in Laos, from 27 to 29 August, and arrived back on 30 August.
The opening ceremony of the 18th AMMTC and its related meetings was held at Latsavong Wanda Vista Hotel on 28 August, and ministers and senior officials of ten ASEAN member countries and observer Timor-Leste, the Secretary-General of ASEAN and relevant officials totaling 220 attended the event.
The 18th AMMTC was chaired by the AMMTC leader (Laos) of the host country, and AMMTC leaders/delegation leaders exchanged views on “Combating Transnational Crimes in the ASEAN Region” During the 18th AMMTC, the leader of the Myanmar delegation highlighted the points as follows:
- The severe impacts of drugs on millions of people around the world, saying the production and sale of drugs are related to money laundering, arms trafficking and terror acts, which affect state security, stability and the rule of law.
- Myanmar is working to control the flow of precursor chemicals into Myanmar. However, it is facing challenges in controlling illegal precursor chemicals through border areas.
- Although non-governmental armed organizations in Myanmar denied that they were not concerned with drug cases, they import the chemicals into their controlled areas. They produce drugs with the help of foreign chemists.
- The country conducted 40 special drug operations between 2023 and 2024 nationwide and Operation 39 in 2023 with the seizures of large sums of chemicals and drugs. Therefore, Operation 39/24 continues to be conducted.
- Myanmar is constantly fighting online scam and financial frauds, and is cooperating with neighboring countries in conducting such combatting process.
- Myanmar is consistently carrying out search and rescue operations for those by the request of foreign countries. Myanmar Police Force has been collaborating with relevant local authorities for such operations. As a result, a total of 54,373 people have been rescued until 20 August 2024. Among them, 52,164 individuals have been transferred to China, and 1,992 individuals have also been transferred to ASEAN member countries. According to the identification, it was discussed that only 10 percent of the rescued individuals had entered the country legally, while the remaining 90 percent had entered the country illegally.
The 18th AMMTC approved two concept papers, two instructions, one guidance for work, two declarations and five joint statements.
During the second-day meeting on 29 August, the 14th AMMTC+ 3 (China, Japan, Korea) meeting, the 11th AMMTC+ China meeting, the 9th AMMTC+ Japan meeting and the 4th AM MTC+ ROK meeting were held. During the 9th AMMTC+ Japan Meeting, regarding the discussion of the Japanese delegate on Myanmar affairs, the Myanmar delegate requested the Japanese delegate the point as follows:
- As the delegate’s discussion is the interference in another country’s affairs, it is not relevant with the meeting’s purpose. In fact, Japan becomes ASEAN dialogue partnership under the rules and regulations of ASEAN. Hence, it is necessary to follow the fundamental principles and policies stated in the ASEAN Charter and ASEAN Political and Security Community Blue print (2025), especially the fact “non-interference in internal affairs of another country.” In this regard, you are requested to focus on the purposes of the meeting.
The pre-coordination meetings of SOMTC, SOMTC+3, SOMTC+ China, SOMTC+ Japan and SOMTC+ ROK were held at the meeting hall of the hotel to coordinate and discuss concept papers, instructions, declarations and statements to be confirmed at the 18th AMMTC and its related meetings were held at 8:30 AM on 27 August. The Myanmar delegation led by Myanmar SOMTC leader Officiating Police Brig-Gen Kyaw Zeya of Myanmar Police Force, Transnational Crime Division, attended it and participated in discussion, it is reported.
Source: GNLM (31-8-2024)
- The production and sale of drugs are related to money laundering, arms trafficking and terror acts, which affect state security, stability and the rule of law.
- Although non-governmental armed organizations in Myanmar denied that they were not concerned with drug cases, they import the chemicals into their controlled areas. They produce drugs with the help of foreign chemists.
- Myanmar is constantly fighting online scam and financial frauds, and is cooperating with neighboring countries in conducting such combatting process.