In Tanai Township’s Gold Mining Areas, Drugs Are Being Paid Instead of Daily Wages

Pajau Media

August 22, 2025

In the gold mining areas of Tanai Township, Tanai District, Kachin State, due to authorities’ failure to take responsibility regarding narcotic drugs, the number of drug users among the gold mining workers has increased compared to the past, say residents of Tanai.

In those gold mines, narcotics such as “Yama,” white heroin, black heroin, and similar substances are widely used by most of the mine workers, and as a result, many of them have become addicted, according to one miner.

“The mine owners don’t give us cash wages anymore. Instead, they give us Yama or heroin. In order to make the workers capable of doing more work, they openly supply us with stimulant drugs. Nobody comes to arrest or stop this. Whatever kind of drug you want, mine owners have it,” one worker said.

According to the accounts of mine workers, business owners pay narcotic drugs instead of daily wages, force workers to use the drugs to keep up work capacity, and since there is no enforcement or arrests, the drug problem has grown more serious.

“In these mines, you can use drugs freely. They are easily available. Much of the money earned goes right back into buying drugs. Some workers who come from distant places have even lost their lives due to the drug problems inside the mines,” another local resident added.

It is also learned that in the Tanai area, besides the KIA, SNA and junta forces are all involved in controlling territory.

News: Hting Nai