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, Weyar Aung, Thant 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.
In response, the AA issued a strong rebuttal, characterizing the military council’s allegations as politically motivated attacks aimed at damaging their reputation at a time when the military is suffering battlefield losses. The AA categorically denied any connection to the drug seizure and emphasized that drug trafficking, gambling, and criminal activities are primarily found in areas under military council control, such as Naypyidaw, Yangon, and Mandalay. The AA statement pointed out that such activities are perpetuated by the corruption and misconduct of military council generals, supported by documented evidence. The AA maintained that these accusations are typical of the military’s political tactics when facing military setbacks, describing them as characteristic of their historical pattern of making politically motivated accusations.
