There has been a rise in illegal gambling establishments, crime and drug addiction combined with a reduction in law enforcement, in northern Shan State’s Muse Town.

Muse Township is under the mixed control of the junta and ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) such as the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA). There has been sporadic and still ongoing fighting between the junta and the EAOs in Muse Township since May 2024. The EAOs have been steadily taking territory from the junta in the township.

Currently it is rife with gambling establishments, drug addiction, daily robberies and thefts, according to a young resident who spoke to SHAN.

He said: “There are at least three illegal gambling dens just in the downtown area. They’re all around the former football field. It’s not just gambling happening there; they’re also selling drugs. So, both gamblers and drug users go to those places. And this is just in the downtown area—there are many more like them all over town.”

Crime has also increased in Muse Town and the safety of residents has been undermined by this increase in illegal gambling establishments that offer a variety of gambling activities, including gambling video games, and also sell illegal drugs.

Another Muse Town resident said: “Thefts and robberies happen almost every day here. It’s just that not all of them get reported. The main reasons are the rise in gambling dens and drug use—that’s why crime has gone up.”

The area around the Sin Phyu Gate gate in Muse Town, one of the busiest China–Myanmar border trading gates, has become a hotspot for crime, according to a local living nearby.

He said: “Crimes like phone snatching and theft are pretty common around Sin Phyu Gate. You often see drug users and gamblers hanging around the area. There are even places where stolen goods can be sold.”

There are also around 30 KTV (karaoke) lounges, bars, and nightclubs in Muse Town, many of which are linked to local militia groups and authorities, with militia members often providing security, according to a Muse resident who wished to remain anonymous.

There are illegal gambling establishments throughout Muse Town. They are not just found in the nine main central downtown wards of the town but also in the more outlying wards, such as Hona, Sathmu, Kaungmuloung, Manweng and Khuweng.