According to local residents’ reports, the South Okkalapa Township Ward 10 Administrator Myint Win and his Pyu Saw Htee group have been illegally arresting young people and selling them as military service substitutes. The group conducts nightly patrols throughout South Okkalapa, targeting youths aged between 18 and 35 years. They set up traps by falsely accusing the detained youth of drug possession and hold them at the ward administration office instead of processing them through proper legal channels. The group detains at least 10 young people monthly at the ward office.
The detained youths are being sold as military service substitutes for a minimum price of 8 million kyats per person. For those without national registration cards, the group collaborates with immigration officials to process new identification cards and smart cards before sending them for military service. This human trafficking operation is reportedly supported behind the scenes by South Okkalapa Township Administration Chairman Aung Myat Moe and committee member Major Zaw Naing. The ward administration office maintains a dedicated detention room where they confiscate the detained youths’ mobile phones and belongings. Local families can secure the release of detained youth through monetary payments.
Despite complaints being filed with relevant authorities about these human trafficking activities, no action has been taken to address the situation. The victims include not only local youth from South Okkalapa but also young people from other townships who are passing through the area. The ward office has established a prison-like room specifically for detaining these captured youths, and their personal belongings including phones are confiscated upon arrest. While local families can sometimes secure releases through payments, the trafficking operation continues unabated with apparent protection from township authorities and law enforcement.
