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 the evening of March 6. The seized items included over 3 tons of ice (methamphetamine) and 200 kilograms of ketamine.
The military council claimed that the drugs were being prepared for shipment to Malaysia under the management of Ye Win (aka) Kyaw Soe Lin, allegedly AA’s economic officer, and his wife Ma Thida Myint, owner of Shwe Kaung Tha boat. The council also reported the arrest of five individuals – Than Lwin, Weyar Aung (aka) Thar Gyi, Thant Kaung Set (aka) Paung Chain, Ye Yint Naing, and Hla Than Oo (aka) Ya Kwat – along with three vehicles. The military council further alleged connections to individuals based in the Wa Self-Administered Region and detailed a network of drug trafficking operations.
In response to these allegations, the AA issued a strong rebuttal, categorically denying any connection to the drug seizure. The AA stated that this was a political attack by the military council, which is currently facing military setbacks. They pointed out that drug trafficking, gambling, and other criminal activities are primarily found in military council-controlled areas such as Naypyidaw, Yangon, and Mandalay, where corrupt military officials maintain control.
The AA emphasized that the military council’s practice of making such allegations during times of military defeats is a typical political tactic. They asserted that there is substantial evidence showing the involvement of corrupt military council generals in drug trafficking and gambling operations. The AA maintained its firm stance that they have absolutely no involvement in drug-related activities and characterized the military council’s allegations as a deliberate attempt to damage their political reputation during a time when the military is facing significant battlefield losses.
