Drugs bound for Rakhine and Malaysia seized in Yangon, valued at 195 billion kyats
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Phyo(NP News)Oct 8
The State Security and Peace Commission announced that more than 195 billion kyats worth of drugs from the AA terrorist group were seized in Yangon, which were destined for Rakhine State and Malaysia.
The government is increasing its efforts to investigate and arrest at drug trafficking routes and is conducting joint anti-drug operations with neighbouring countries. As a result, drug traffickers are taking advantage of the sea route and changing their trafficking route. Moreover, the AA insurgent group is found to be using the money it receives to buy weapons and ammunition to carry out terrorist activities in Rakhine State, and torturing and killing innocent people with weapons.
According to reports that drugs from Shan State were being transported to Rakhine State and Malaysia via Yangon, security forces stopped and searched a NISSAN CONDOR driven by Aung Khant Kyaw and accompanied by Htet Wai Phyo on September 24 on the Hlegu-Phaunggyi road in Hlegu Township, and seized 1,439 kilograms of ice methamphetamine.
Following the further investigation, the additional accomplices were arrested: Zaw Win Tun, San Tun Kyaw, Zaw Lin, Saw Zin Min Han, Kyaw Naing, Thet Paing Oo, Ye Ko, Hein Htet Soe, Htet Nay Lin, Zin Min Hlaing, Wai Phyo Aung, Soe Min Paing, Khin Maung Tut, and Tint Naing Tun.
During the operation, 16 people involved in transporting drugs to Rakhine State and Malaysia were arrested along with four cars, 3,438 kilograms of ice and 2,198 kilograms of ketamine worth approximately 195.85 billion kyats.
Those arrested have been charged under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law, and efforts to arrest the remaining suspects are ongoing.
The statement also expresses that if the public receive information about drug trafficking, they can report it to the relevant authorities confidentially, and that informants and those who cooperate in arresting them will be secretly rewarded with valuable cash prizes.
Several drug smuggling cases have been tied to the Arakan Army (AA) in recent years.
In December 2023, over 2 tonnes of crystal meth and 800 kg of caffeine worth 51.87 billion kyats were seized, with links to AA leader Twan Mrat Naing and his financial associate Kyaw Myat Oo.
In March 2025, a businessman connected to the AA was arrested for transporting more than 3 tonnes of crystal meth and 200 kg of ketamine valued at 96 billion kyats.
In April 2025, authorities intercepted an AA-linked trafficking group with drugs worth over 8 billion kyats.
In May 2025, 26 people, including an AA supporter, were arrested while attempting to smuggle nearly 300 billion kyats’ worth of heroin from Shan State to Malaysia to fund the AA.
In August 2025, traffickers aided by the AA were caught moving drugs into Malaysia valued at around 260 billion kyats.
In September 2025, drugs worth more than 170 billion kyats were seized, leading to the imprisonment of 16 distributors linked to the AA. –