Police arrested five individuals who were reportedly impersonating Burmese police officers in Laukkai Township, in the Kokang Self-Administered Region of northern Shan State on Tuesday. 

According to the Shan State police force, the individuals were Chinese nationals who had recently entered Burma. The suspects were apprehended near the Shwe Sin area of Laukkai. 

“I don’t know if they were wearing Burmese police uniforms when they were arrested,” Police Brig-Gen Zaw Khin Aung, who is the commander of the Shan State police, told SHAN. 

However, when the arrests were made, the suspects were in possession of two Burmese police uniforms, one bulletproof vest, five pairs of handcuffs, two fake nine-millimeter pistols and two fake M-22 rifles, police sources said. 

A case has been brought against the five people at Laukkai Myoma police station, with the suspects accused of violating Article 170 of Burma’s penal code, or impersonating a public servant.