Arakan Army says junta uses drug allegations as political weapon

By Admin 21 Aug 2026

DMG Newsroom

21 August 2026, Mrauk-U

The Arakan Army has rejected the military junta's allegation linking it to more than 24 million seized illicit drug pills, with spokesperson U Khaing Thukha calling it a fabricated propaganda strategy.

On August 19, the military junta announced the seizure of more than 24 million drug pills in southern Shan State that it claimed were intended for shipment to Arakan State.

The junta statement claimed the drugs were to be transported through Mindon Township and handed over to Ko Tun Kyaw, head of business operations for the Arakan Army, and Ko Ba Nyunt.

According to the statement, the seizure included 24.15 million stimulant tablets valued at K36.255 billion.

The military claimed that five individuals involved in transporting the drugs were arrested between August 12 and August 15 in Magway Region and along the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway.

U Khaing Thukha stated that whenever the military junta faces military and political setbacks, it produces previously seized drugs to make fabricated allegations, tarnish the opposition's reputation and carry out propaganda.

"The military generals of the terrorist Myanmar army are the kingpins behind all criminal enterprises in Myanmar, including drugs and online scam operations. Looking closely at the drugs displayed this time, it is clear they are the same packages shown repeatedly in previous incidents," U Khaing Thukha said.

The military junta has frequently leveled drug-related allegations against the Arakan Army.

Whenever high-value drug seizures are reported, the junta releases propaganda statements specifically targeting the Arakan Army.

Arakanese political figures noted that the military uses drug allegations against the Arakan Army to tarnish its political standing and render it unacceptable to the international community, a tactic they said has been employed repeatedly in the past.

"I view this as an attempt to defame the Arakan Army politically. Moving drugs from Shan State to Arakan State requires crossing numerous regions and checkpoints, which is no simple feat. Therefore, these allegations appear to be a staged fabrication by the military," writer Wai Hun Aung said.

The military junta has been attempting to enter Arakan State through southern Chin State, Magway, Bago and Ayeyarwady regions via various routes, but without success.

Facing severe military setbacks on the ground, the junta has relied on air support, bombing not only active combat zones but also civilian areas across Arakan State.

Political analyst U Aung Marm Oo observed that the military junta, suffering defeats on multiple fronts, is leveling drug allegations against the Arakan Army as a political attack.

"The regime has frequently attacked with drug allegations in the past, and the Arakan Army has consistently denied them. This is unlikely to be a political coincidence. I view it as an intentional and targeted political strike," he said.

The Arakan Army enforces anti-drug measures in its controlled territory, arresting and taking legal action against drug traffickers and users.

The Department of Law Enforcement and Public Security (DLEPS) has enacted laws prescribing penalties ranging from a minimum of 10 years' imprisonment to the death penalty for transporting, selling or distributing drugs within Arakan State.