EXPOSED: Companies brokering arms & equipment to Myanmar military

August 11, 2022

116 Myanmar and Singapore companies with 255 directors and shareholders have brokered the supply of weapons and other equipment worth many millions in US dollars to the Myanmar military, including since the illegal attempted coup of February 1, 2021.

The known brokers include 31 companies with 76 directors and shareholders that Justice For Myanmar has identified as suppliers of arms and equipment to the Myanmar military, who have had active business with the military since its coup attempt. These businesses and their directors and shareholders are complicit in the military’s atrocity crimes. Justice For Myanmar calls for urgent sanctions against these companies and individuals.  

Justice For Myanmar has also identified 27 companies with 51 directors and shareholders that brokered arms and equipment to the Myanmar military since 2017 – the year of the Rohingya genocide, preceding the coup attempt. They have been complicit in the military’s atrocity crimes and must be prevented from pursuing further business with the military. Justice For Myanmar calls for sanctions against these companies and individuals.

Linked to the total of 78 Myanmar-based companies brokering for the military are at least 38 subsidiary or associated companies in Singapore.

Singapore has long been a known financial and trade hub for the Myanmar military junta and this poses an imminent threat to the lives of millions of Myanmar people. As a member of ASEAN, Singapore has an important role to play to resolve the Myanmar crisis. It must start by ending its complicity in the junta’s international crimes.

Myanmar’s military resources have long been used in its campaign of terror against the people of Myanmar, in aggression against ethnic minorities who resisted its attempts to suppress their equal rights in the union. The military has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity with total impunity against ethnic minorities and in 2017, committed genocide against the Rohingya. Since the 1 February 2021 attempted coup, that deliberate violence is directed against people across the country who continue to reject and resist the military’s ongoing attempt to seize power.

The suppliers of arms to the Myanmar military have had knowledge of the war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed by the brutal military. Those who continue to provide arms are complicit in the military’s atrocity crimes.  

Since the military’s attempted coup, the military has carried out indiscriminate airstrikes and shelling, murdered villagers, committed rape, destroyed homes and crops, and forcibly displaced an estimated 866,400 people.  

Under the Arms Trade Treaty, to which 111 states are parties, it is prohibited to transfer arms with knowledge they would be used in the commission of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes. The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies seeks to prevent the transfer of dual-use goods to countries of concern. 42 states are parties to the Wassenaar Agreement. However, Singapore is not a party to the Arms Trade Treaty or the Wassenaar Arrangement.

So far, only a few of the companies supplying arms and other products to the military junta have been sanctioned, while the vast majority are continuing to operate freely.

Companies brokering arms to Myanmar military

The following companies are confirmed to have brokered arms and equipment to the Myanmar military, and are divided into three categories, based on the current status of their identified business activities.

Category “A” lists brokers of arms and equipment to the Myanmar military, who have had business with the Myanmar military since the attempted coup.

Category “B” lists brokers of arms and equipment to the Myanmar military, who have conducted business with the Myanmar military following the Rohingya genocide from 2017 or later.  

Justice For Myanmar calls for companies, directors and shareholders listed in category “A” and “B” to be sanctioned for their involvement in supplying the Myanmar military.

Category “C” includes brokers of arms and equipment to the Myanmar military, who have conducted business with the Myanmar military from 2015-2016, or where dates are not confirmed. The companies, their shareholders and directors should be monitored as there is a risk that they may have continued business with the Myanmar military. Any ongoing business with the Myanmar military must result in sanctions.

The sources are based on documents from the Myanmar Ministry of Defence's procurement department that have been leaked to JFM, previous disclosures made public by JFM, industry sources and other online and media sources.

Download the list of Myanmar military arms broker companies and individuals (22 October 2023): Download Excel File (64 kb)

Updates

(6 December 2023): Nanova Group's leader states that the company is no longer engaged in business with the Myanmar military. See Nanova's response to Justice For Myanmar here.

(22 October 2023): Bamar Pte Ltd and Bright Sky Group Pte Ltd have been struck-off.

(30 July 2023): MCM's procurement from Singapore did not include parts for Bell-206 helicopters. Bell-206 parts have been suppplied by International Gateways Group of Companies and its Singapore company, Venture Sky International Ltd.

(18 December 2022): One individual, Maung Lay Naing, has been removed from the list as they were a nominee director, and the company, Nanova Pte. Ltd, has been struck-off. The total number of individuals listed is now 255.

(23 November 2022): One individual, Ngu Wah Hlaing, has been removed from the list as they are a nominee shareholder, and have resigned. The total number of individuals identified is now 256.

(1 September 2022): One individual, Phyu Myint Mar, has been removed from the list as they are a company secretary and nominee director, and have resigned. The total number of individuals identified is now 257.

(28 August 2022): One individual, Moe Thu Aung, has been removed from the list as they are a company secretary and not a director. The total number of individuals identified is now 258.

(22 August 2022): Company responses from Machinery & Solutions Co. Ltd. and ATO Trading Pte. Ltd added.

(17 August 2022): Three individuals have been removed from the list as they are company secretaries and not directors: Nyi Nyi Htun, Sieng Mei Fang and Yadanar Shein. The total number of individuals identified is now 259.

Category A: Brokers of arms and equipment to the Myanmar military, who have had business with the Myanmar military since its coup attempt

A1 Group of Companies & subsidiaries: Yadanarbon Fibre Services Co. Ltd, Com & Com Co. Ltd, Terabit Wave Co. Ltd & Bright Sky Group Pte Ltd

A1 Group through its subsidiaries Yadanarbon Fibre Services Company Limited, Com & Com Company Limited, Terabit Wave Company Limited and Bright Sky Group Private Limited provide telecommunications technology and services to the Myanmar military.

According to Yadanarbon Fibre Services Co. Ltd’s website, the company has provided CCTV surveillance services to the Ministry of Defence, which is controlled by the war criminal Min Aung Hlaing.

Terabit Wave Co. Ltd and Com & Com Co. Ltd, which has business links to German and Israel companies, have had business with the Myanmar Army’s Directorate of Signals since 2014.  

According to JFM sources, purchases are made through Bright Sky Group Pte Ltd, a Singaporean business unit of the A1 Group.  

In 2017, Terabit Wave brokered or attempted to broker the procurement of optical transmission systems from the Korean firm Coweaver for the Directorate of Signals, according to a leaked letter sent by the company to the Directorate of Procurement in September 2017.

The four companies share common directors and shareholders. In addition, Yadanarbon Fibre Services Company Limited is also a shareholder in Telecom International Myanmar (Mytel), a military-controlled telecommunications operator in Myanmar, through Myanmar National Telecom Holdings.

For more details, see  JFM’s feature.

Creative Exploration Ltd

Creative Exploration Limited (formerly known as mySpace International or My Space International Company Limited) has imported fuzes from India to the Myanmar military since the attempted coup.

The most recent shipment was on March 25, 2022 and consisted of 3,000 fuzes, according to records from the Panjiva trade database. This followed a similar shipment in 2020 and 2019.

The company has also imported digital forensics technology from the United States (US) firm Oxygen Forensics and a digital forensics examination station from the US firm Sirichie, both via Indian suppliers.

Creative Exploration Ltd is also a major broker of arms and equipment for the Myanmar police force.

The company is owned by Dr Kyaw Kyaw Htun, a former military officer and graduate of the Defence Services Technological Academy and his wife, Zar Phyu Tin Soe, is the daughter of a former military officer who was Myanmar’s ambassador to Russia.

For more details, see JFM’s feature

Dynasty Group & its subsidiaries

Dynasty Group of Companies, which has carried out business in the European Union (EU), supplied aircraft and spare parts manufactured by the German company Grob to the Myanmar Air Force.

A subsidiary of Dynasty Group, Dynasty International Company Limited, is also a key arms supplier to the Myanmar military, with links to companies in Russia, Belarus and Germany.  

Dynasty International imported parts for Mi-17 helicopters since the attempted coup, according to data from the trade database, ImportGenius.

The Group’s director, Dr Aung Moe Myint, is the Belarus Honorary Consul to Myanmar.  

His business unit registered in Singapore, Dynasty Excellency Pte Ltd, is highly likely to be used to facilitate arms transactions to Myanmar.  

Aung Moe Myint is now targeted by sanctions from the United Kingdom (UK) and Canada, and his business Dynasty International Company Limited is also sanctioned by the UK.

For more details, see JFM’s feature.

Galaxy Shine Co. Ltd

Galaxy Shine Company Limited (formerly known as Aung Sein Hein Company Limited) has imported Mi-17 helicopter parts to Myanmar from Simplex LLC, a Russian supplier of aircraft parts, since the attempted coup.

For more details, see JFM’s feature.

Htoo Group of Companies & its subsidiaries: Myanmar Avia Export, Htoo Trading, YAECO

The Htoo Group of Companies (HGC) is a major crony conglomerate owned by arms broker Tay Za and his family.

Tay Za is a significant business associate of the Myanmar military, who has supplied the military with aircraft and parts through his companies, Myanmar Avia Export and Htoo Trading Company Limited.

Myanmar Avia Export Company has imported Mi-35P aircrafts and Mi-17 aircrafts parts worth millions of euros from Ukrainian firm Motor Sich and Russian firms including JSC Russian Helicopters, according to a leaked Ministry of Defence document concerning procurement for 2015-16 FY and a leaked letter from the Myanmar Air Force to the Directorate of Procurement, sent in November 2017. The company is now in liquidation.

The Group’s aviation service company Yangon Aircraft Engineering Company Limited (YAECO) has also provided services to the Myanmar Air Force.

The Htoo Group of Companies and some of key directors and shareholders have been sanctioned by the US, the UK and the EU for providing financial support and arms to the Myanmar military.  

HGC has ongoing business with the Myanmar military and its conglomerates.

For more details, see JFM’s feature.

International Gateways Group of Companies, Myanmar Consultancy Co. Ltd & Venture Sky International Ltd

International Gateways Group of Companies (IGG) through its subsidiary Gateways Hongkong Company Limited – was awarded contracts worth millions of US dollars to supply equipment including spare parts and upgrades for the air force’s fighter jets and other aircraft and weapons for warships to the Myanmar military.  

According to JFM sources, IGG is one of the biggest arms suppliers to the Myanmar Air Force and Navy, especially in trade from China.

IGG’s managing director, Dr. Naing Htut Aung, is sanctioned by the US.

Dr. Naing Htut Aung was a key director and shareholder of Myanmar Consultancy Company Limited (MCC), which has procured equipment from ALLWE, a Russian trading company that specialises in the supply of aircraft parts and related equipment for Mi-8 and Mi-17 helicopters. In 2019, Myanmar Consultancy attempted to supply a CASA CN-235 military transport aircraft, according to a leaked proposal.

MCC was an online exhibitor at the MAKS 2021 air show in Russia, which the Myanmar military coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attended in person.  

For details, see JFM’s feature.

Dr. Naing Htut Aung’s Singapore business Venture Sky International Ltd has directly supplied aircraft spare parts to the Myanmar military.

The company had at least 12 contracts with the Myanmar Air Force to provide aircraft spare parts in 2016 alone.  

Notably, this is the same year the company was established, indicating that the company was likely to have been set up as an intermediary for the Myanmar military amidst sanctions that were in place at the time.  

According to a leaked Ministry of Defence document concerning procurement, the 2016 purchases include:

  • 53 spare parts for MiG-29 fighter planes worth over USD$ 3.3 million
  • 213 spare parts for G-4 planes worth USD$ 800,000
  • 197 spare parts for K-8w trainer jets worth USD$ 700,000
  • 30 spare parts for Y-12 multi-use planes worth USD$ 100,000
  • 7 spare parts for Mi-17 military helicopters worth USD$ 10,901
  • 25 spare parts for Mi-17 military helicopters worth USD$ 47,203
  • 289 spare parts for Cessna Citation CCII planes worth USD$ 1.4 million
  • 4 spare parts for main components of CCII planes worth USD$ 43,640
  • 57 spare parts for F-7 fighter planes worth USD$ 200,000
  • 3 pieces of lifting equipment for Myanmar Navy worth USD$ 359,750
  • 11 main components for MiG-29 fighter planes worth USD$ 1.1 million
  • 5 main components for Bell-206 helicopters worth USD$ 44,650

In 2017, when the Myanmar military carried out a campaign of genocide against the Rohingya,

Venture Sky International Ltd also sold spare parts for PC-7 aircraft and Mi-17 helicopters to the Myanmar military.

Venture Sky International Ltd was dissolved in October 2021 after JFM reported on arms shipments involving Dr Naing Htut Aung’s companies.

Dr Naing Htut Aung is a key arms dealer to the Myanmar military and his businesses are currently only sanctioned in the US and continue to operate freely elsewhere.  

For more details, see JFM’s feature.

KT Group, Ky-Tha Group & their subsidiaries

KT Group of Companies and Ky-Tha Group of Companies have procured arms and dual use goods for the Myanmar military through their subsidiaries.

A subsidiary Kyaw Htet Kyaw Company is a key broker for the procurement of equipment and services for the Myanmar military, including the air force and the army’s Directorate of Procurement.

The company won a one-million-euro tender for the purchase of a Sub-Atlantic Super Mohawk remotely operated vehicle (ROV), manufactured by the US-based Forum Energy Technologies.  

According to a leaked document, the transaction was made through subsidiary Ky-Tha Trading in Singapore.  

KT Group subsidiary, MWG Limited, has procured Fokker planes for the Myanmar Air Force, according to the New York Times.

Subsidiaries Ky-Tha Trading and Ky-Tha Industrial Development have also procured and provided services related to Thales Coast Watcher 100s – a French-designed long-range coastal surveillance radar – for the Myanmar Navy.

These companies are owned by Moe Kyaw Thaung and his son Jonathan Myo Kyaw Thaung, who is the Chief Executive Officer of KT Group.  

Jonathan Myo Kyaw Thaung is currently sanctioned by the US for being a business associate of the Myanmar military.  

Yet, no other country has sanctioned his arms-dealing companies and their directors.  

KT Group has ongoing business with the Myanmar military and its conglomerates. For more details, see New York Times reporting and JFM’s feature.

L T Resources Co. Ltd

L T Resources Company Limited is linked to the procurement of aircraft for the Myanmar Air Force.

The company is owned by Linn Htet and Mon Yee and Thida Myint (niece, nephew and sister of the junta’s State Administration Council member, Maung Maung Kyaw).

For more details, see Reuters reporting.

Mega Hill General Trading Co. Ltd

Mega Hill General Trading Company Limited has procured arms, dual use goods and spare parts for the Myanmar military, including after the attempted coup.

The company also has a history of procuring technology and providing services through the army’s Directorate of Procurement.  

It also provides medical supplies to the Myanmar military's Defence Services Medical Academy.  

The company has business links to German companies.

For more details, see JFM’s feature.

Miya Win International & Asia Golden Phoenix Consultancy Services

These two companies procure arms and dual use goods for the Myanmar military, including from Austria and Germany.

Miya Win International procured Austrian-made Schiebel Camcopter S-100 unmanned aerial vehicles for the Myanmar military, in breach of the EU arms embargo.  

Asia Golden Phoenix Consultancy procured an ATR flight simulator from the Austrian firm Axis Simulation, and registered it with the European Air Safety Authority.

Miya Win International has imported parts and a full-scale training model for Camcopter S-100s since the illegal coup attempt.

Miya Win International is now subject to sanctions from the UK for its role in procuring arms on behalf of the Myanmar military.

For more details, see JFM’s feature.

                     

Myanmar Chemical & Machinery Co. Ltd & its subsidiaries  

Myanmar Chemical & Machinery Company Ltd (MCM) is owned by arms dealer Aung Hlaing Oo.

The company’s subsidiaries are suppliers of arms and related materiel to the Myanmar military and are also involved in arms production and a technical transfer project producing K-8 trainer jets in Myanmar with the Chinese state-owned arms company, CATIC. K-8 trainers were last commissioned during the junta’s air force anniversary celebrations in December 2021.

MCM was part of a project with the Ukrainian state-owned arms manufacturer Ukroboronprom and the army’s Directorate of Defence Industries to produce BTR-4 armoured personnel carriers (APCs), MMT-40 light tanks and 2SIU self-propelled howitzers.

MCM has supplied spare parts, tools and accessories for T-72 tanks to the Commander in Chief of the Myanmar Army’s Directorate of Artillery and Armour Corps.

MCM has also procured arms from Serbia for the Myanmar military. A 2019 MCM proposal for the Myanmar Air Force, leaked to Justice For Myanmar, details aircraft-mounted rocket launchers, rockets, free-fall bombs, a multiple bomb launcher for use “on large surfaces” and fuses.  

A Singaporean subsidiary of MCM Pacific Pte Ltd has provided parts for Mi-2 and Mi-17 helicopters to the Myanmar Air Force.

The company has also imported spare parts for a MTU12V 331TC 92 marine diesel engine as well as an engine display unit, propulsion system, lifesaving equipment and stern arrangement worth millions of US dollars for the Myanmar Navy.  

MCM Pacific Pte Ltd supplied BTR-3U armoured personnel carrier parts to the Myanmar army’s Directorate of Artillery and Armour Corps worth millions of euros.  

MCM has been sanctioned by the US, UK and Canada.

For more details, see JFM’s feature and company profile.

Myanmar New Era Trading Co. Ltd & Yatanarpon Aviation Support Co. Ltd

Myanmar New Era Trading Company Limited, owned by Aung Myo Win, former managing director of arms supplier Myanmar Consultancy Company Limited, has procured goods for the Myanmar military.

Data from the trade database Import Genius reveals that Myanmar New Era Trading Company Limited has shipped parts for Mi-17 and Mi-8 helicopters from Russia 83 times.  

Yatanarpon Aviation Support Company Limited, which is linked to Myanmar New Era Trading Company Limited, has received aircraft parts from Ukroboronservice on behalf of the Myanmar military since 2020, including following the military’s attempted coup.

Yatanarpon Aviation Support Co. Ltd was formerly a company of Sit Taing Aung, Mexico's honorary consul to Myanmar, who has been sanctioned by the US and Canada for brokering arms on behalf of the Myanmar military.

Yatanarpon Aviation Support Co. Ltd is now in liquidation.

For more details, see JFM’s features here and here.

Sky Aviator Co. Ltd

Sky Aviator is a Myanmar miliary arms broker that has procured equipment from Russia and Ukraine since the attempted coup, including YAK-130 support equipment from Concern Radio-Electronic Technologies (KRET), refitted turbojet engines from United Engine Corporation and engine parts from Rosoboronexport and Motor Sich.

According to a proposal leaked to JFM, Sky Aviator represents JSC Russian Helicopters in Myanmar.

Sky Aviator is subject to UK sanctions.  

For more details, see JFM’s feature and details of recent shipments received from Russia by Sky Aviator Co. Ltd.

Star Sapphire Group

A subsidiary of Star Sapphire Group – Star Sapphire Trading Company Limited – has played a key role in brokering deals for arms and military equipment on behalf of the Myanmar military over many years.  

Equipment procured has included defence technology and products from China and, previously from Israel.  

The company’s Managing Director, Dr Tun Min Latt, is directly involved in these arms deals and has direct access to military coup leader Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing.

His wife Dr Tun Min Latt jointly formed a company with Khin Thiri Thet Mon, daughter of Min Aung Hlaing.

The company has ongoing business with the Myanmar military.

For details, see JFM’s feature.

Synpex Shwe Co. Ltd

The Synpex Shwe Company Limited procured material for the Myanmar Air Force in March 2021 and the company is also a supplier for the Directorate of Defence Industries.

Synpex Shwe is now subjected to sanctions from the UK for its role in procuring arms on behalf of the Myanmar military.  

For more details, see the JFM feature.

Trident Marine Co. Ltd, Amber Star General Trading Co. Ltd, Atland Services Pte Ltd and D&K Intertrade Pte Ltd

These companies have supplied equipment and services worth many millions of US dollars for the Myanmar navy, as part of a major frigate construction project.

In the aftermath of the junta’s illegal coup attempt, Trident Marine Co. Ltd staff together with a Myanmar navy delegation travelled to Ukraine as part of the frigate project.  

The deal was brokered in partnership with the Ukrainian-owned Singaporean company, Atland Services Pte Ltd, according to an industry source.

Trident Marine Co. Ltd also procured ship parts for the Myanmar Navy in 2015-16, including navigation equipment, electrical fittings and steering equipment.

For more details, see Myanmar Now reporting and JFM’s feature.

Category B: Brokers of arms and equipment to the Myanmar military, who have had business with the Myanmar military during the 2017-18 financial year or later

Aero Sofi Co. Ltd & Asia Trading Group Pte Ltd

Aero Sofi Company Limited is a supplier to the Myanmar Air Force.

The company’s agreements with the Myanmar Air Force include the luxury refurbishment of an Airbus A319-112 plane worth millions of US dollars, which was cancelled after it was exposed, and a proposed US$38.6 million deal to purchase two Airbus CASA C-295 military transport planes from the Royal Jordanian Air Force.

The company is wholly owned by an arms broker, Sai Kham Park Hpa, who holds a stake in the Singapore-based Asia Trading Group Private Limited, a company which is facilitates the transactions.

For more details, see JFM’s feature.

Asia Energy Supply & Services Co. Ltd

This company supplied a pump to the Myanmar Navy in 2017, according to a leaked Ministry of Defence document concerning procurement.

D S T Business Group Co. Ltd

In 2017-18, the company supplied an engine room ventilation system and accessories, an anchor winch and an F12 PLC industrial computer control card, a shipboard power cable, electrical hardware, a watertight cable sealing system, a navigation lamp, a search light, a signal light, a marine electrical lamp fitting and a steering system to be used by the Myanmar Navy, according to a leaked Ministry of Defence document concerning procurement.

General Machinery Trading Co. Ltd and General Machinery Trading Pte Ltd

General Machinery Trading Company Limited, a port equipment supply company, has provided welding accessories, a welding electrode, panelling materials and packing and joining materials to the Myanmar Navy, according to a leaked Ministry of Defence document concerning procurement.

The purchases were made through its Singapore business unit, General Machinery Trading Private Limited.

Another leaked Ministry of Defence document concerning procurement shows General Machinery Trading Company also supplied a Laser Tracker System for the Myanmar Navy in 2017

The company is the official authorised distributor in Myanmar of a wide range of port equipment from international brands – such as cranes and lifting equipment from Konecranes in Finland, V-belts products from Bando in Japan, a mobile shredder from Metso in Denmark and products from Terex Fuchs in Germany, according to the company website.

Interstellar Ltd

This company is an official sales agent for the import of aviation parts from Ukroboronprom in Ukraine to the Myanmar air force, according to a leaked proposal, and was an online exhibitor at the MAKS 2021 air show in Russia.

For more details, see JFM’s feature.

King Royal Technologies Co. Ltd

This company has had contracts with the Myanmar Air Force and the Myanmar army’s Directorate of Signals, and has reportedly been engaged in military research and manufacturing.

It is subject to US Department of Commerce restrictions.

For more details, see JFM’s report and feature on the arms trade with Russia, and a leaked proposal.

Life and Challenge Co. Ltd and LANC Pte Ltd

Life and Challenge Company Limited, a company which has links to the EU, provided an engine room ventilation system and accessories, an anchor winch, a F12 PLC industrial computer control card, and a piping machine and tools for the Myanmar navy, according to leaked Ministry of Defence documents concerning procurement.

In 2018, Life and Challenge Co. Ltd and its partner TBSS, a Singaporean company that specialises in radars and electronic warfare, and training and engineering services, were jointly awarded a contract to design and deliver a radar capability development programme for the Myanmar military officers from the Defence Services Science and Technology Research Centre (DSSTRC), Defence Services Technological Academy (DSTA), Directorate of Signals and Directorate of Defence Industries.

Life and Challenge Co. Ltd has also supplied dozens of items to the DSSTRC through its Singapore business LANC Pte Ltd.

Life and Challenge Co. Ltd’s co-owner Wunna is also director and shareholder of Myanmar Consultancy Company Limited (MCC), a key arms supplier to the Myanmar military.

For more details, see JFM’s feature.

Lion Zone Co. Ltd

This company was contracted to supply a plating machine and other tools for the Myanmar Navy in 2017.

For more details, see JFM’s feature.

Machinery & Solutions Co. Ltd

This company supplied spare parts for a MTU12V 331TC 92 marine diesel engine and an engine display unit for the Myanmar Navy in 2017, according to a leaked Ministry of Defence document concerning procurement.

The company denies supplying the Myanmar military. Their full response is available here.

Mega Dynamic Co. Ltd and Achiever Marine Service

These two companies have jointly provided items for the Myanmar Navy following a successful bid in a Ministry of Defence call for tenders for dozens of marine equipment items including ship wiring cables, navigation and marine electrical fittings, a propulsion system, a stern arrangement, a steering system, a ventilation blower, welding machines, mooring and towing equipment and other accessories, according to a leaked Ministry of Defence document concerning procurement for 2015-16 FY

In 2017, Mega Dynamic Co. Ltd also provided a propulsion system, a stern arrangement, a steering system and ventilation blower to Myanmar Navy, according to a leaked Ministry of Defence document concerning procurement for 2017-18 FY.

Monday International Co. Ltd

This company supplied an engine room ventilation system and accessories for the Myanmar Navy in 2017, according to a leaked Ministry of Defence document concerning procurement.

Myan Shwe Pyi Tractors Ltd

This company sold a propulsion system and stern arrangement to the Myanmar Navy in 2014 and 2017, respectively, according to a leaked Ministry of Defence document concerning procurement.

Myanmar Future Science Co. Ltd

This company has procured Elbit drone parts that were sent to the Myanmar military.

For more details, see a proposal leaked to JFM, and reporting in the New York Times.

One Success Co. Ltd

This company was awarded a contract to supply foundry shop accessories to the Myanmar Navy in 2017, according to a leaked Ministry of Defence document concerning procurement.

                         

Royal Shune Lei Co. Ltd

The Royal Shune Lei Company Limited has supplied arms and related materiel from Russia and Serbia to the Myanmar military.

See the leaked 2019 proposal involving procurement from Serbia and this feature on the arms trade with Russia.

Shwepoe May Co. Ltd

Shwepoe May Company Limited is run by a former instructor at the Myanmar military’s Defence Services Academy.

The company has supplied rockets and missiles to the military, according to a JFM source.

It has also provided spare parts for BTR-3U armoured personnel carriers to the Commander in Chief (Army) Directorate of Artillery and Armour Corps.

See 2019 proposal leaked to JFM.

Sixth Ocean Ltd & Midway Pte Ltd

Sixth Ocean Limited has procured equipment for the Myanmar military.  

The company’s purchases were made through Midway Pte Ltd, a company that was registered in Singapore, but has since been struck off the company registry.  

In addition, Sixth Ocean also has links to Allwe, a Russian company which provides parts to the Myanmar military.  

For more details, see JFM’s feature.

Sun & Moon 777

Sun & Moon 777 works closely with the Commander in Chief of the Myanmar Navy, Moe Aung.

The company brokered French Zodiac Milpro inflatable rubber boats to Myawaddy Trading, a subsidiary of the Myanmar military’s conglomerate, Myanma Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL), in August 2020, for delivery in 2021, according to leaked documents.

The Myanmar Navy is known to be the end user of these boats according to an industry source with knowledge of the transaction.

TBSS Group and TBSS Center for Electrical and Electronics Engineering

TBSS, a sole proprietor company owned by Singapore engineer Lee Kar Heng, has provided equipment, training and support for the Myanmar military to development its radar capabilities, in partnership with Myanmar military broker Life and Challenge Company Limited. This has included the provision of a 9-month radar capability development program for the Defense Services Science and Technology Research Centre (DSSTRC) and Defence Services Technological Academy (DSTA) in 2018. Lee Kar Heng is a former staff of Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency.

TBSS Group has involved its international partners in supplying equipment and training to the Myanmar military, including Keysight Technologies (USA), SkyRadar (Luxembourg/Germany), Dspnor (Norway) and RFBeam (Switzerland).  

For details, see JFM’s feature and Straits Times reporting.

Trio Core Distribution Co. Ltd

Trio Core Distribution Company Limited is linked to arms broker Miya Win International.

This company was a business partner to Victorinox and arranged a meeting for Victorinox with the Myanmar military on August 22, 2017, as the military was committing genocide against the Rohingya. It led to the supply of knives with an imprint for the 72nd anniversary of the Myanmar Air Force in 2019.

For more details, see JFM’s feature.

True North Co. Ltd

True North is a known arms dealer and the agent of the Indonesian state-owned enterprise, PT Pindad. PT Pindad has exported ammunition to Myanmar. True North is owned by Htoo Htoo Shein Oo, the son of the Myanmar military junta’s planning and finance minister, Win Shein.

For more details, see JFM’s feature.

Trust And Honesty International Co. Ltd / UK Logix Security International Co. Ltd

Aung Min Nyo (also known as Kevin Nyo) and these two companies that he co-owns have provided defence security consultation, services and technology to the Myanmar military, according to JFM sources.

 

Category C: Brokers of arms and equipment to the Myanmar military, who had business with the Myanmar military from 2015 to 2016, or where dates are not confirmed

Asia Resource Developments Trading Co. Ltd

This company has had contracts with the Myanmar Navy to supply marine items including an engine room ventilation system and accessories, marine diesel gensets, a main switchboard, marine spare parts and an oxygen plant for a naval dockyard, according to a leaked Ministry of Defence document concerning procurement for 2015-16 FY.

Bamar Pte Ltd

Bamar Pte, a Singapore based company owned by Myanmar citizens, has supplied arms and aircraft spare parts for the Myanmar military in 2016.  

The items supplied include spare parts for Mi-17 helicopters and 37mm twin barrel AA guns worth millions in US dollars, according to leaked Ministry of Defence documents concerning procurement.

The company has registered an overseas branch office in Yangon, Myanmar.

Eternity Star Co. Ltd and Pollux Marine Pte Ltd

Eternity Star Company Limited and Pollux Marine Private Limited have jointly imported ship wiring cables, marine navigation electrical fittings and a steering system for the Myanmar Navy, according to a leaked Ministry of Defence document concerning procurement for 2015-16 FY.

Both companies are owned by a Myanmar citizen, Ye Linn.  

Eternity Star Co. Ltd is the authorised distributor of products from marine brands ESAB, Mercury Marine and Delfin in Myanmar.

Future Gift International Ltd

This company has provided an aviation jet refuelling vehicle for the Myanmar Air Force in 2016, according to a leaked Ministry of Defence document concerning procurement.

Lucky Bird Trading Company Limited

A leaked August 2017 Myanmar Air Force letter to the Directorate of Procurement shows that Lucky Bird Co. Ltd attempted to broker EWR 600 and EWR 750 weather radar manufactured by its partner. According to an arms industry source, Lucky Bird Trading has also won IT contracts from the Myanmar military.

Marinetech Limited

A Myanmar military broker with links to France. In July 2017, Marinetech together with a French partner CNIM met with the Myanmar army to negotiate the provision of a modular assault bridge system, according to a leaked letter sent to the Directorate of Procurement.

Mascot Company Limited

The company has supplied communications equipment to the Myanmar army from the South African firm Reutech, according to an industry source.

The UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar (FFMM) reported that Reutech has supplied ground-to-air radio transmitter V/UHF transceivers (Reutech/PAE 3060), according to the Ministry of Defence budget documents.

Moezac Company Limited

A leaked July 2017 Directorate of Procurement letter shows representatives from MoeZac Co., Ltd. is partnered with Russian firm UAZ LLC and met with Directorate of Defence Industries regarding the supply of armoured and other vehicles.

Nanova Company Limited and Nanova Pte Ltd

Nanova Company Limited supplied equipment including pneumatic fenders for the Myanmar Navy.

It has also provided scientific equipment for the Myanmar military’s Defence Services Science and Technology Research Centre (DSSTRC), according to a leaked Ministry of Defence document concerning procurement for 2015-16 FY.

Since 2014, Nanova has been purchasing Radar Absorbent Paint (RAP) manufactured by Micromag Co., Ltd. for the Myanmar military. According to a brief report, Myanmar Navy representatives travelled to Spain in Feb 2014 regarding Micromag purchases.  

Nanova is registered in Myanmar as well as in Singapore as a supplier of medical, scientific and industrial equipment.

It has offices in Yangon, Naypyidaw and Mandalay.

Nanova Pte Ltd has been struck off and the group's leader states that the company is no longer engaged in business with the Myanmar military. See Nanova's response to Justice For Myanmar here.

Oro Vittorio Co. Ltd.

This company supplied spare parts for a flight simulator to the Myanmar Air Force in 2016, according to a leaked Ministry of Defence document concerning procurement.

Proven Technology Industry Co. Ltd.                  

This company has supplied thousands of vehicle batteries to the Myanmar military, according to a leakedMinistry of Defence document concerning procurement for 2015-16 FY.

Pyae Naing Thu Co. Ltd and Xinde Marine Engineering Pte Ltd

Xinde Marine Engineering Private Limited had a joint agreement with Pyae Naing Thu Company Limited to provide items for the Myanmar Navy following a successful bid in a Ministry of Defence call for tenders for gyrocompass equipment and stabiliser systems, and an external firefighting system in 2015-16, according to a leaked Ministry of Defence document concerning procurement.

Royal Pyae Phyo Company Limited

Royal Pyae Phyo, a trading and logistics company has involved in supplying the Myanmar military with nitrate from the Thai firm, Thai Nitrate Company, according to an industry source.

According to Royal Pyae Phyo’s website, their partners include the Chinese arms conglomerate AVIC, and the Chinese drone manufacturer Beihang UAS Technology Co. Ltd.

Sea Technology International Ltd and Sea Technology Cooperation Pte Ltd

Sea Technology International Limited is a major supplier of marine communication and navigation equipment in Myanmar.

The company has had multiple contracts with the Myanmar military. It provided items for the Myanmar Navy following a successful bid in a Ministry of Defence call for tenders for navigation and other equipment to be installed on landing craft, offshore patrol boats and other naval vessels, according to a leaked Ministry of Defence document concerning procurement for 2015-16 FY.

The company also supplied a Furuno navigation radar to the Myanmar army.

The purchases were made through Sea Technology Cooperation Pte. Ltd, a Singapore branch of Sea Technology.

Shwe Pan Thu Co. Ltd. and Duwon Pte Ltd

These companies have jointly supplied items for the Myanmar Navy following a successful bid in a Ministry of Defence call for tenders for anchor chain and accessories and a marine window, according to a Ministry of Defence document concerning procurement for 2015-16 FY.

Singa International Enterprise Ltd and Royal Lion International Pte Ltd

These companies jointly brokered items for the Myanmar Navy following a successful bid in a Ministry of Defence call for tenders for an electric boat crane, firefighting and other equipment, according to a leaked Ministry of Defence document concerning procurement for 2015-16 FY.

The companies have the same directors: Khin Thin Swe and Sein Aung.

The Prime Inya Company Limited

The Prime Inya Company Limited and its partner, Chinese Aerospace Long March International Trade Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of CASC met with the air force commander-in-chief regarding CH-4 armed UAVs in Aug 22, 2017 according to a leaked Myanmar Air Force letter to the Directorate of Procurement. China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. CASC has a plant to build CH-4 UAVs in Myanmar, according to the UN Fact-Finding Mission.

The Prime Inya has also been listed as a buyer of ammonium nitrate and sulphur.

 

Triple Phoenix Co. Ltd. and Triple Phoenix Pte Ltd

Triple Phoenix Company Limited and its Singapore subsidiary Triple Phoenix Private Limited were awarded multiple contracts to supply equipment for the Myanmar military, according to a leaked Ministry of Defence document concerning procurement for 2015-16 FY.

This has included providing items for the Myanmar Air Force following a successful bid in a Ministry of Defence call for tenders for spare parts for Mi-17 helicopters and main components for MiG-29 aircraft.

These companies have also supplied navigation equipment to be installed on a hospital ship used by the Myanmar Navy and cardiac consumables for the Defence Services Medical Academy.

Some of the purchases were made through a Singapore company, TRD Consultancy Pte Ltd, which has shared the same office and directors with Triple Phoenix Pte Ltd. TRD Consultancy has had an office in Myanmar and has supplied anti-drone guns to the Myanmar Police Force.

Shwe Htee San Trading Co. Ltd. and Shwe Htee San

Shwe Htee San Trading Company Limited, together with its Singapore business, have supplied navigation equipment for the Myanmar Navy to be installed on a naval ship, according to a leaked Ministry of Defence document concerning procurement.

The companies have been struck off the Myanmar and Singapore company registries.

Reliance Products Pte Ltd

Reliance Products Private Limited is linked to Mega Hill General Trading Co. Ltd and has imported hydraulic cranes for the Myanmar navy and equipment for the Defence Services Science and Technology Research Centre (DSSTRC), according to a leaked Ministry of Defence document concerning procurement for the 2015-16 FY.

For more details, see JFM’s feature.

Note: ATO Trading have responded that they did some transactions with Myanmar brokers using their bank account in 2015 and 2016, but not with the Myanmar military, or its associates, and they ceased acting as a commission agent in 2020.

Call for sanctions

Justice For Myanmar calls for sanctions on the abovementioned category “A” and “B” companies and their directors and shareholders, for their involvement in supplying the Myanmar military.

Category “C” companies and their shareholders and directors should be monitored for any continued business with the Myanmar military. Any ongoing business with the Myanmar military must result in sanctions.

More sanctions are urgently required to prevent the continued flow of arms, equipment and revenue to the Myanmar military, which enable its campaign of terror. Targeted sanctions must capture:

  • Myanmar and international companies supplying and funding the Myanmar military;
  • Myanmar and international companies and their directors and shareholders brokering arms, dual-use goods, and funds;
  • any other companies and individuals that continue to provide the Myanmar military with arms, dual use goods and revenue.

Detailed list of Myanmar military arms broker companies and individuals

JFM has compiled detailed lists identifying Myanmar registered companies and Myanmar linked Singaporean companies involved in supplying the Myanmar military, along with company directors and shareholders, graded according to the abovementioned categories.

Download the list