Drugs worth over 5,500 billion kyats seized within five years
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Hsu (NP News) - Dec 20
During a press conference on telecom fraud eradication efforts held in Yangon on December 14, Police Lt-Gen Win Zaw Moe, Chief of Myanmar Police Force, stated that drugs worth over 5,500 billion kyats have been seized within five years.
He said that from 2021 to November 2025, a total of 30,420 cases of narcotics seizures were made. Out of these, 42,759 offenders were arrested, including 36,885 males and 5,874 females.
"Regarding drug seizures and enforcement actions, from 2021 to November 2025, a total of 30,420 drug cases were handled, leading to the arrest of 36,885 male suspects, 5,874 female suspects, totaling 42,759 offenders. We successfully seized drugs and controlled chemicals with a total value exceeding 5,570.7 billion kyats. This included over 7.2 tonnes of opium, over 9.4 tonnes of heroin, over 4 tonnes of marijuana, over 1138 million stimulant tablets, over 107 tonnes of ICE (crystal meth), over 22.2 tonnes of ketamine, over 866 kg of Happy Water, 1,166,002 Ecstasy pills, over 89.6 tonnes of caffeine and other narcotics, as well as other chemicals," he said.
Furthermore, Police Lt-Gen Win Zaw Moe stated that among the drug seizures during this five-year period, there were 174 cases involving weapons and ammunition.
"From 2021 to October 2025, within the drug seizures, there were 174 cases involving weapons and ammunition. From these cases, we confiscated items from a total of 405 suspects (379 men, 26 women), including 709 assorted weapons, 303 various types of bombs, 61 various mines, 137,550 various rounds, 1,645 various magazines, over 159 kg of various types of gunpowder, 1,157,634 various detonators, and related equipment," he explained.
He also added that drugs and chemical substances with a total value of over 5,329 billion kyats were incinerated and destroyed. This equates to over 1,068.66 billion kyats in 2021, over 1,188.828 billion kyats in 2022, over 936.723 billion kyats in 2023, over 1,163.648 billion kyats in 2024, and over 971.79 billion kyats in 2025.
During these five years, assets with a total value exceeding 13,044 million Kyats were confiscated in 4,197 cases related to drug offenses,. These include over 488 million Myanmar kyat, 3,612,120 Thai baht, 500 Chinese yuan, 2,000 US dollars, 2.5 ticals of gold, 477 motor vehicles, 2,438 motorcycles, 596 mobile phones, seven trishaws, five three-wheeled motorcycles, 19 bicycles, one electric scooter, one sidecar motorcycle, 35 motorboats, one transport tractor, two air coolers, and one backpack.
It is noted that Myanmar is cooperating internationally on narcotics prevention and control efforts, collaborating with ASEAN member states, Greater Mekong Subregion countries, BIMSTEC member states, and neighboring countries.
Additionally, Police Lt-Gen Win Zaw Moe informed that they are closely cooperating with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Australian Federal Police (AFP), US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), China's National Narcotics Control Commission (NNCC), and Thailand's Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB).