Drug offences in Arakan State punishable by 10 years to death penalty: AA authorities

By Admin 27 Mar 2026

DMG Newsroom

27 March 2026, Maungdaw

The Department of Law Enforcement and Public Security (DLEPS) under the Arakan Army (AA) has announced that individuals involved in the transportation, sale, or distribution of illegal drugs in Arakan State will face penalties ranging from a minimum of 10 years in prison to the death penalty.

According to DLEPS, under Section 19(a) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law, the possession for sale, transportation, transmission, or transfer of such substances is strictly prohibited. Those found guilty under this section face a minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment up to an unlimited prison term.

Furthermore, under Section 20(a), any individual convicted of manufacturing, distributing, or selling narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances shall be sentenced to a minimum of 15 years to life imprisonment, or the death penalty.

Local youth in Arakan State have expressed support for the stringent legal measures.

“Compared to youth in other states and countries, Arakanese youth seem to be lagging behind by about a decade in terms of mindset, awareness and general development. One of the reasons for this gap is the impact of drugs. Therefore, we support and recognise these harsh legal penalties to eliminate distributors and sellers,” said a young woman in Maungdaw.

While welcoming the law, some residents emphasised the need for effective anti-drug measures beyond sentencing.

“Establishing these laws is good, but there is also a need for public education regarding these legal changes. Drug issues must be handled strictly, and youth need more awareness. Beyond prison terms, we need rehabilitation centres and psychological therapy for addicts to help them reintegrate into society,” said a resident of Taungup.

However, some critics pointed to challenges such as bribery in drug distribution and alleged involvement by some personnel within the United League of Arakan (ULA).

“In some cases, we see people operating drug distribution openly, sometimes in collusion with certain Arakan Army members. Now that the law is official, we want to see justice in court regardless of who is involved. The law must be applied strictly and without bias,” another Maungdaw resident said.

Reflecting its commitment to internal discipline, an Arakan Army statement on August 30, 2025, said that 11 distributors, including seven DLEPS members, were arrested in Ponnagyun Township.

More recently, on March 15, DLEPS announced the arrest of an individual found with drugs and related paraphernalia at a KTV in Minbya Township.

DLEPS has urged the public to cooperate as a national duty by providing timely information, participating in drug awareness efforts, preventing cultivation and use, and protecting youth from the dangers of narcotics.