In Mandalay a group of uniformed men armed with small arms stole finished jade products worth over 10,000 lakh (1 billion) kyats, (About $54,000 USD) on 28 May.

Currently, it is not known if the thieves were junta troops or not.

The male victim, While, lives in Myothit (5) Ward, Chan Mya Thazi Township, Mandalay. On 28 May he was returning home with his son at about 1 p.m. when they were robbed at the corner of 102-A and 72nd Streets by four men. Two were wearing uniforms while the other two, who threatened While and his son with guns, were in civilian clothes. The group searched the car, found the jade products and robbed them all.

After the incident, the victim went to the No. (11) police station in Chan Mya Thazi Township to file a case about the robbery.

A source close to the victim said: “He thought, it was a normal surprise check so he stopped the car and then the men immediately searched the car thoroughly. Later, they found the jade items in the car and they robbed them all. It is known that the jade items were worth over 10,000 lakh kyats. Gold items were also taken away too.”

It was reported that the stolen jade items included six jade pendants worth about 4,000 lakh (400 million) kyats, eight jade rings worth about 5,000 lakh (500 million) kyats and two jade earrings worth about 1,000 lakh (100 million) kyats.