The Arakan Army (AA) has strongly refuted 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 more than 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 authorities also reported arresting five individuals – Than Lwin, Weyar Aung, Thant Kaung Set, Ye Yint Naing, and Hla Than Oo – along with three vehicles. The military council further alleged that the operation was being overseen by Tin Maung Win from Pangsang in the Wa Self-Administered Region, with Than Lwin responsible for transportation.
The AA has issued a strong rebuttal to these allegations, categorically denying any connection to the drug seizure. They stated that this is a political attack by the military council, which typically resorts to such tactics when facing military setbacks. The AA emphasized that drug trafficking, gambling, and criminal activities are predominantly found in areas under military council control, such as Naypyidaw, Yangon, and Mandalay. They further alleged that such operations involve corruption and bribery among high-ranking military council officials, pointing out that this is supported by undeniable evidence. The AA maintained that the military council’s attempt to link them to drug trafficking is part of their usual pattern of making politically motivated accusations when they are losing ground militarily.
