The Arakan Army (AA) has strongly denied allegations by the military council linking them to a major drug seizure in South Dagon Township, Yangon Region. According to the military council’s statement, drugs worth over 96 billion kyats, including more than 3 tons of ice (methamphetamine) and 200 kilograms of ketamine, were seized from a warehouse on Shin Phyu Shin Road in Ward 144, South Dagon Township on the evening of March 6.
The military council claimed that the seized drugs were managed by alleged AA economic officer Ye Win (aka) Kyaw Soe Lin and his wife Ma Thida Myint, who were reportedly preparing to ship the drugs to Malaysia. The council stated that five individuals – Than Lwin, Weya Aung (aka) Tha Gyi, Thant Kaung Set (aka) Paung Chain, Ye Yint Naing, and Hla Than Oo (aka) Ya Kwat – were arrested along with three vehicles during the operation.
However, the AA has categorically denied any involvement in drug-related activities. The organization stated that the military council is attempting to politically discredit the AA at a time when they are suffering military defeats. The AA emphasized that drug trafficking, gambling, and other criminal activities are primarily found in areas under military council control, such as Naypyidaw, Yangon, Mandalay, and territories controlled by military council-affiliated militia groups.
The military council’s statement detailed that the drugs were transported under the direction of Win Maung Win from Pangsan city in the Wa Self-Administered Region, with additional arrests made of individuals allegedly involved in distribution networks in Yangon. The AA has firmly rejected these allegations, stating that they are purely political attacks by the military council and that the organization has absolutely no connection to drug trafficking activities. The AA maintains that such accusations are typical of the military council’s political tactics when facing military setbacks.
