Myanmar junta chief's aide arrested in Thailand
An aide of Min Aung Hlaing, the head of Myanmar's junta government, has been detained in Thailand. The Thai police arrested him along with three Thai citizens from the capital Bangkok in an early morning raid last Wednesday (September 21) on charges of drug trafficking. News Reuters.
According to the report, the arrested 53-year-old Tun Min Lat is a big businessman in Myanmar. He has close ties with the Myanmar junta chief and his government.
Regarding the arrest, a spokesperson of the Thai police said that four people, including Tun Min Lat, were arrested early Wednesday morning on charges of drug trafficking and money laundering. At that time, 20 crore baht was seized from them.
Tun Min Lat has a variety of businesses in Myanmar, including hotels and energy, Reuters reported, citing at least three sources. Due to his close relationship with Min Aung Hlaing, he provided all the necessary goods for the army.
In August this year, the United Kingdom imposed economic sanctions on several businesses of Tun Min Lat. At that time, it was said on behalf of the British government that the ban was given to stop the income and purchase of weapons for the Myanmar army. A Tun Min Lat is believed to supply most of the Myanmar military's weapons.
In 2019, Tun Min Lat participated in an arms exhibition in Bangkok, Thailand with Junta chief Min Aung Hlai. Photographs of participants in the exhibition were also published in Myanmar's state media at that time. UN documents say Tun Min Lat is the son of a retired lieutenant colonel in the Myanmar army.
