The Arakan Army (AA) has strongly denied allegations made by the military council linking them to a major drug seizure in Yangon’s South Dagon Township. According to the military council’s statement, drugs worth over 96 billion kyats were seized from a warehouse on Shin Phyu Shin Road in Ward 144 of South Dagon Township on March 6 evening. The seized items included over 3 tons of ice (methamphetamine) and 200 kilograms of ketamine, which were allegedly being prepared for shipment to Malaysia.
The military council claimed that the drugs were being managed by Ye Win (aka) Kyaw Soe Lin, who they identified as AA’s economic officer, and his wife Ma Thida Myint, who owns the Shwe Kaung Tha ferry business. The council also reported the arrest of five individuals – Than Lwin, Weya Aung, Than Kaung Set, Ye Yint Naing, and Hla Than Oo – along with three vehicles. The statement further alleged connections to individuals from the Wa Self-Administered Region and detailed a network of drug trafficking operations spanning multiple cities.
In response, the AA issued a strong rebuttal, characterizing the military council’s allegations as politically motivated attacks aimed at damaging their reputation amid the council’s military losses. The AA categorically denied any connection to the drug seizure, stating that such activities are actually prevalent in areas under military council control, including Naypyidaw, Yangon, and Mandalay. The AA emphasized that drug trafficking, gambling, and other criminal activities are directly linked to corruption among high-ranking military council officials, supported by documented evidence. They described the military council’s allegations as typical political smear tactics employed when facing military setbacks, reiterating their complete non-involvement in any drug-related activities.
