Rakhine traders exchange goods from Saw for drugs
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Phyo/Saw (NP News) - Nov 26
Locals say that traders from Rakhine State are exchanging goods for drugs through Saw Township, Gangaw District, Magway Region.
Previously, goods flowed into Rakhine State via the Ann-Padan Road, which connects Ann Township and Padan Town in Magway Region, but all goods traffic has been closed due to the conflict.
As a result, traders from Rakhine State have been trading rice and food products through forest roads via the border towns of Saw and Yaw in Magway Region, as trade routes have been closed.
The most recent incident of this trade was the arrest of four male traders from Rakhine and a local woman who had let them stay at her house in Saw on the night of November 17, where they were found in possession of over 300 WY pills.
“I think those drugs were brought from Rakhine to Saw. They bring rice, oil, salt, and gasoline from Saw to Rakhine. That’s for sure. I don’t know if it’s related to the exchange of goods. Many locals also think so. It can be assumed because Saw only exports rice, oil, and salt,” a source familiar with the issue told to the Statesman Journal.
In addition, besides the flow of goods from Saw, Rakhine traders also trade through the Mizoram-Paletwa trade route in India, which was temporarily closed from November 12 to 20 due to cholera.
“This drug is a hot issue in Rakhine State. Drugs are frequently found in Rakhine State. So, the residents of Saw Township are also very worried about the seizure of these yaba drugs. In the past, there were incidents where these yaba drugs were seized frequently in Saw Township and Panghsang. Authorities frequently seized yaba shipments along the Saw and Yaw border regions before,” he continued. –