Myanmar: 5 Lakh stimulant tablets seizes in massive drug bust

One suspect was arrested, while the other fled. The total value of the drugs is estimated at 200 million kyats. Read further on Dynamite News:

Naypyidway: The Myanmar police have seized 500,000 stimulant tablets in eastern Shan state, the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control said on Thursday.

Acting on a tip-off, a joint anti-narcotic task force searched motorcycles driven by two suspects in Tachileik township on Tuesday and confiscated the drugs, the report said.

One suspect was arrested, while the other fled, it added.

The total value of the drugs is estimated at 200 million kyats (about 95,200 U.S. dollars), it said.

The suspects have been charged under Myanmar's drug laws, and further investigations are ongoing, it added.

Myanmar's Shan State borders Thailand, Laos, and China, and lies within the infamous area known as the 'Golden Triangle', a region notorious for its historic reputation as a major hub for illicit drug production and trafficking, particularly of opium and, more recently, synthetic drugs like methamphetamine.

This area's complex political landscape, including the presence of various armed groups from both within the country and outside it, along with limited government control in certain pockets, has long facilitated drug manufacturing and smuggling operations.

Despite ongoing efforts by Myanmar authorities, and its coordination with intelligence agencies from across the world, the drug trade in the area remains a significant challenge, with large-scale seizures like this one frequently reported as law enforcement continues its battle against these illicit networks.

600 kg Heroin Seized

Yesterday on 29 May Sri Lankan authorities reportedly seized more than 600 kilograms of heroin and crystal methamphetamine in a major maritime drug bust, arresting 11 suspects and confiscating two fishing trawlers used in the smuggling operation.

The interception occurred during a joint operation conducted by the Sri Lanka Navy, State Intelligence Service, and Police Narcotics Bureau in the country’s southern territorial waters. The two vessels were escorted to Dikowita Fisheries Harbour on Wednesday, where both the drug consignment and suspects were formally taken into custody.

According to the Sri Lankan Navy, initial assessments confirm a haul exceeding 600 kg, though final verification is on. The seized drugs — heroin and methamphetamine (locally referred to as “ice”) — were hidden aboard multi-day fishing trawlers commonly used in maritime trafficking routes, reports News First.

Sri Lanka has long faced international drug smuggling challenges, owing to its strategic position in the Indian Ocean. The island nation has often been used as a transit point by crime syndicates for regional, as well as international drug smuggling.