Drug-trafficking connecting with
NUG-affiliated PDFs
The AA’s primary drug trafficking
routes typically involve the route to Rakhine State via Shan State
(North)-Mandalay-Yangon route by water and the route to Rakhine State via
Mandalay-Meiktila-Magway-Padan by land. Due to increased arrests along these
routes in 2024, the AA group is connecting with NUG/PDF groups, who are also
hand in glove with it, and trafficking illicit drugs that are produced from
Shan State (North) and Kachin State to Rakhine State in 2025 through
PDF-operated areas in Sagaing Region and Chin State.
Consequently, a news report widely
circulated that three PDF members were arrested with 3 million methamphetamine
pills and 100 kg of heroin, estimated at over 9 billion Kyats (USD 2.5 million)
by a Chin armed group in Hakha Township on 8 July 2025. In fact, the drugs
belonging to the AA group were transported by the PDFs receiving a fee. It was
revealed that the drug trafficking PDF members were from the Yinmarbin District
PDF group, under the NUG, and that they were trafficking drugs to raise funds
for their group's survival because the NUG does not provide support to PDF
terrorist groups. They had previously succeeded in trafficking drugs three
times, but were arrested on their 4th attempt.
This incident clearly demonstrates
that the PDF groups under the NUG are emulating the AA group's drug trafficking
model and operating it as a business to sustain their groups. Furthermore, the
AA's drug distribution network has spread widely throughout Myanmar, shifting
from the transport of drugs in small quantities frequently to the transport of
drugs in large quantities less frequently through the areas they control. They
themselves conduct drug-trafficking and collect tax revenue by allowing
drug-trade in the areas they operates. The drugs trafficked and distributed by
the AA are being used extensively not only among young people in various
villages and towns but also among members of armed insurgent groups.
Specifically, the confiscated dead
bodies of AA members during battles in the Rakhine State and other evidence
indicates that AA leaders often administer narcotics to their subordinates to
endure the hardships of battle. Similarly, as PDF terrorists are also following
suit, a market for psychotropic drugs is taking place within armed insurgent
groups.
The AA’s foreign market for illicit
drugs
The AA's foreign market for illicit
drugs extends from Bangladesh and Malaysia to Western countries and the Middle
East. The incident that demonstrates this fact is the arrest of 13 members of a
narco-gang between 5 and 14 August 2025, along with 21.8 million amphetamine
pills, 5,614.2 kg of ICE (crystal meth), and 1,899 kg of Ketamine, estimated at
257 billion Kyats (USD 71.4 million). The offenders plotted to conduct
drug-trafficking to Malaysia and Bangladesh.
In this case, major-level ranked Ko
Yay (Rakhine), the AA’s customs head stationed in Wan Hai and Win Khine (under
identification his rank) living in Myebon of Rakhine State are members of AA
group. Liekwise, Tun Thein (Rakhine), living in Yangon and responsible for
storing and distributing narcotics, and Kyaw Swar Win (Rakhine) from Kungyangon,
who are responsible for trafficking drugs to Malaysia are also AA’s supply in
charge masquerading as civilians. Kyaw Han, the secretary and finance in charge
of the AA group, operates behind the scenes.
In terms of the AA group’s drug
economy network, AA members themselves transport, distribute, and sell
narcotics at home and abroad. In situation like this, the group tasks
individuals as in charges in the insurgent-controlled areas and assign the
business duty as well as supply duty to the Rakhine people masquerading as civilians
in the areas where risks of arrest are high. The AA group not only smuggles its
own narcotics but also provides safe passage for the narcotics of other armed
groups through its areas, in return for tax collection.
According to the statements of those
arrested in this case, drug-dealers made drug-trafficking from Wan Hai to
Bangladesh and Malaysia through Myebon Township where AA group operates in
Rakhine State. Once the drug-trafficking is conducted, the AA group would
receive a total of 3,460.0 million Kyats as the tax revenue: 654.0 million
Kyats for 21.8 million amphetamine pills at a rate of 300,000 Kyats per 10,000
pills, 2,807.0 million Kyats for 5,614 kg of ICE (crystal meth) at a rate of
500,000 Kyats per kilo of ICE. The AA group does not need to invest in
drug-dealing themselves, but instead has a representative in the drug-producing
area and a representative in Rakhine State, and has their group's civilian
support in charge along the drug-carrying route, collecting net tax revenue for
the drugs passing through its area.
Accordingly, it is evident that the
AA group is heavily involved in both directly trading narcotics to meet their
group's financial needs, and in allowing other narco- gangs to transit its area
in order to collect substantial tax revenue.
More apparent evidence is that plenty
of psychotropic drugs distributed and sold through villages and towns in
Rakhine State where the AA group operates can be easily purchased in refugee
camps within Bangladesh. This point can be clearly seen in the 2021 report of
the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) in Bangladesh. According to the
report, there are approximately 8 million drug users in Bangladesh, and the
DNC manages to seize over 50 million psychotropic tablets annually. The seized
psychotropic tablets were trafficked into Bangladesh via villages and towns
controlled by the AA in the Rakhine State. The seizures reveal the involvement
of AA members themselves in drug-trafficking. Hence, there have been undeniable
eye-witnesses and documents that the AA armed terrorist group is extensively
carrying out drug trafficking operations not only within the country but also
to foreign countries.
Mutual impact between drug economy
and acts of terrorism
The AA group's drug economy network
is connected both domestically and internationally. Revenue from narcotics has
strengthened their arsenal of weapons and ammunition. As continuous battles
occur, they are increasingly engaging in drug trafficking to replenish
diminished arms and ammunition. Similarly, drug trafficking is causing more
lawless acts of terrorism. To carry out more armed terrorist acts, they are increasingly
pursuing drug trafficking as their primary business. The AA group's armed approach,
fuelled by drug revenue and manpower/weaponry, has escalated battles. Due to
acts of terrorism, stability and peace in Rakhine State have been destroyed,
and the public's social life is declining.
Undeniable acts of terrorism
To ensure its survival, the AA group
has indoctrinated its members with narrow-minded racial views through Rakhine racism.
Consequently, the AA troops have been observed and heard to be brutally
committing racially and religiously motivated violent attacks against other
ethnic groups and tribes within Rakhine State. The recent widely reported
incident in international news media, where approximately 600 Bengali people,
including children and women, were brutally murdered in Htan Shauk Khan village,
Buthidaung Township, in May 2024, exemplifies the AA group's inhumane acts of terrorism.
Similarly, in June 2024, a sub-group
of the AA terrorist group, led by Tun Wai, groundlessly murdered a total of 357
Muslims in Buthidaung: 87 men from 5 wards in the town, 135 men from Sein Nyin
Pyar village, 95 from Nyaung Chaung village, and 40 from Taung Bazar village,
accusing them of being associated with the government froces. The AA group, believing
in Rakhine chauvinism, has not only forcibly recruited Bengali people, but also
Chin and Mro people living in Maungdaw and Paletwa townships, and has also been
known to commit bullying and killings. In December 2024, over 90 Mro people including
over 30 children under the age of 18 from Thittonenar Khwason village in
Maungdaw Township were forcibly abducted, and their families are worried as
they have not been heard so far.
Specifically, the AA group frequently
launches drone attacks against Bengali villages in Buthidaung and Maungdaw
regions, forcing Bengali people to flee as displaced persons. Similarly, it
commits indiscriminate killings of innocent civilians in Paletwa, Pauktaw,
Minbya, Mrauk-U, and Kyauktaw Townships, and forces them to attend military
training, and collect money by extortion from those willing to have exemption
from military training.
The aforementioned drug trafficking
network and terrorist acts of the AA terrorist group constitute crimes that no
country in the world can accept. Although the group vehemently denies
involvement in drug trafficking and terrorism, undeniable eye-witnesses and
documents clearly exist.
Call for action to international
community
The issue of anti-narcotics has been
a challenge for successive governments and drug-trafficking is the main source
of income for the survival of terrorist insurgents under the name of ethnic
armed groups, and is also related to the prolongation of internal armed
conflict. Therefore, the State Administration Council government has given
special priority to drug prevention and suppression, and has eradicated and
combated it with its own resources without international assistance. Even
though it is actively cooperating with international organizations in order to
be more effective and successful, it is unfortunate to see and hear that some foreign
governments and anti-narcotics organizations are turns a blind eye in
drug-dealings and acts of terrorism by armed drug lord AA groups and
NUG-affiliated PDFs and their acts of terrorism against innocent civilians.
Therefore, this is a call for action
to international anti-narcotics organizations that it is required to combat
armed narco-gangs like the AA terrorists group under the name of ethnic armed
group, which is heavily involved in drug-trafficking, in order to more
effectively suppress the drug-production, drug-trafficking and drug-dealing encountered
by Myanmar, and to effectively prevent acts of terrorism that are strengthened
by drug-trade.
Aung Shinn