Four arrested for armed robbery at Shwe Zin gold shop in Latha Township

Four suspects – two who carried out the robbery and two accomplices – have been arrested in connection with the armed robbery at the “Shwe Zin” gold shop on Maha Bandoola Road in Yangon’s Latha Township, according to police.

The incident occurred on the morning of December 5. U Soe Htay, a resident of Hlaing Township, arrived at the shop in a white Faw Toyota BZ4X vehicle to deliver various gold items for sale along with 103 million kyat in cash. While he and shop staff were unloading the items, two men on a motorcycle approached and threatened them with a gun. The robbers made off with 391 pieces of gold jewelry worth about 425 million kyat and 103 million kyat in cash.

Following the robbery, police launched an investigation using surveillance and public tips. At around 4:05 pm. the same day, authorities recovered a red suitcase abandoned near the old power office building inside Yangon General Hospital compound. Inside were 53 gold pendants, 26 gemstone pendants, several rings and earrings worth about 100 million kyat, along with clothing and a knife believed to belong to the suspects. On December 6, police also seized the motorcycle used in the robbery and additional red suitcase shells used to carry the stolen items.

Continuing the investigation, police tracked down the suspects. On December 9 at around 11:20 am., authorities arrested the two main offenders — Aung Zinko,  owner of “Aung Brother Tea Shop,” and staff member Soe Ko, at their shop located at the corner of Shwe Out Gu Road and Nigawdhar Road in Thaketa Township.

According to police sources, the suspects confessed to carrying out the armed robbery and stated that Aung Zinko had given Soe Ko 1 million kyat after the crime. Investigation further revealed that the firearm, some stolen jewelry, and some of the cash had been hidden at the home of U Than Tun, Aung Zinko’s father-in-law, in Dagon Myothit (East) Township, while 27 million kyat had been entrusted to Aung Zinko’s wife, Ma Thin Moe Kyu.

Police subsequently raided these locations on the afternoon of December 9. At U Than Tun’s residence, officers recovered a handmade pistol with five rounds of ammunition, a backpack containing 180 assorted rings and 58 pairs of earrings, and a bag containing 1.5 million kyat. At Ma Thin Moe Kyu’s home, police recovered the 27 million kyat she had been holding.

Police say action will be taken in accordance with the law against the two robbers — Aung Zinko and Soe Ko — as well as U Than Tun and Ma Thin Moe Kyu for possessing and concealing stolen property. Efforts continue to recover remaining evidence and items connected to the case.