Drug Seizure: 133 billion kyats worth of drugs seized

According to the Myanmar Police Force, a drug trafficking cartel planning to transport drugs to Malaysian and Thai waters via sea routes from North Okkalapa Township was uncovered, and over 133 billion kyats worth of drugs, including 1.58 tons of Ice (methamphetamine) and over 1.8 tons of ketamine, were seized along with the arrests.

A joint team, including members of the Anti-Narcotics Task Force, acting on intelligence, arrested four individuals—Shwe Maung San, Min Zaw Hlaing (aka) Min Zaw, Aung Kyaw Myo, and Maung Maung Than  along with over 1.8 tons of ketamine, one HINO Box truck, one MARK-X car, and one Light Truck at Kanaung (1) Street in Ward (19), Shwepaukkhan Myothit, North Okkalapa Township, at 6 AM on November 27.

Based on their interrogation, an additional 1.58 tons of Ice (methamphetamine) and 60 kilograms of ketamine were seized from a warehouse in Ward (19), Shwepaukkhan Myothit. Consequently, a total of 1.58 tons of Ice (valued at approximately 39.5 billion kyats in the region price) and 1.885 tons of ketamine (valued at approximately 94.25 billion kyats) were seized, with a combined value of approximately 133.75 billion kyats. Follow-up investigations revealed that the seized HINO Box truck was used to transport the psychotropic substances from Lashio, Northern Shan State, to Shwepaukkhan Myothit, North Okkalapa Township.

Those who facilitated the transfer, Myat Min Ko and Pyay Sone Aung, were also arrested on November 27. Furthermore, Zaw Naing Oo and Nay Min Kyaw Htway, who transported psychotropic substances from Mong Ral, Shan State (North), to the warehouse in Shwepaukkhan Myothit, North Okkalapa Township, were arrested on November 28 along with the MITSUBISHI FUSO fuel tanker truck used in the transportation. Further investigations led to the arrest of Ko Ko Kyaw Ye Naung, the person responsible for transporting the psychotropic substances from Northern Shan State to Yangon, and accomplices involved in the transport: Naing Win Htwe, Myo Win, and Tin Ko Ko Lin. Follow-up investigations uncovered that the operation was orchestrated by A Charn (still at large) from Laukkaing Township, Shan State (North); Ko Saing (still at large); and Ye Soe Oo (still at large) from Phaung Chaung Village, Pakokku Township, Magway Region.

The plan was to transport psychotropic substances from Shan State (North) to Yangon and then via sea routes to Malaysian and Thai waters for sale. The arrested drug trafficking cartel has been charged under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law. Efforts are ongoing to uncover other individuals involved in the criminal chain. To seize the financial proceeds and assets obtained from their drug trafficking activities as state assets, further legal action is being taken under the Anti-Money Laundering Law.