Defector says junta soldiers use drugs to gain upperhand in clashes with AA

By Admin 07 Aug 2025

DMG Newsroom

7 August 2025, Sittwe

Junta soldiers on the front lines are reportedly using drugs to aid them in combat with the Arakan Army (AA).

Junta conscripts who defected to the Arakan Army (AA) have revealed that when they were among the ranks, many junta soldiers were using stimulant tablets.

"Many junta soldiers use stimulant pills. WY-branded stimulant pills are readily available. If you don't know, you can buy one stimulant pill for K30,000, and if you know, you can buy three stimulant tablets for K15,000," said Nay Thura Myo, a junta defector.

Nay Thura Myo was a junta conscript from military training batch No. 10, and deserted to the AA in July after fleeing the Nat Yay Kan junta base in Ngaphe Township, Magway Region.

Nay Lin Aung, who defected to the AA on July 9, said that many junta soldiers on the Ann-Padan front were similarly using drugs to fuel their fight against the AA.

In the battle for control of Kyaukphyu, junta soldiers are also reportedly using drugs, and the AA has reportedly seized drugs.

"The AA seized various drugs from junta soldiers. Most of the junta soldiers who were not willing to fight were found to be using drugs. Some of the captured junta soldiers appear to be in an abnormal state of mind due to excessive drug use," said a local man from Kyaukphyu who is familiar with the military situation on the ground.

Myanmar's military regime, which has suffered a series of military defeats over the past two years, often uses propaganda in its affiliated newspapers and other media to accuse the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) of being drug traffickers.

The junta has been left reeling militarily in northern Shan, Kachin, Chin, Kayah, and Karen states, and most dramatically in Arakan State.

"We all know that the military regime is an organisation that does everything, both legal and not, to maintain its power. That is why it dares to commit crimes, including using psychotropic drugs with junta soldiers on the frontlines," said an activist from a social organisation in Arakan State.

The regime, which opened military fronts across the country after the coup, has lost about 100 towns to resistance forces.

Clashes are reported in Sagaing, Mandalay, Ayeyarwady, Magway and Bago regions, as well as in Kachin, Kayah, Kayin and Arakan states.Drugs have also been found in military camps belonging to the military regime during the conflicts in these regions.