A junta soldier was arrested in possession of methamphetamine tablets by PDF forces in Ta Ku village in Myeik District’s Tanintharyi Township at 3 pm on 5 April, according to the Non-Aligned
guerilla group.

The soldier, 25-year-old Aung Kyaw Oo (Military ID No 127854) from Battalion 17 was arrested in possession of methamphetamine tablets stamped with the letters WY.

An official from the Non-Aligned guerrilla group said: 'A junta soldier was arrested with 15 stimulant tablets. The military officers have been using and distributing narcotics themselves.'

A member of the group said that Aung Kyaw Oo was currently being detained and it was not clear what action would be taken.

According to the Central Committee on Drug Abuse Control from 1 January 2021 till 20 December 2021 the following quantities of drugs were seized: more than 2.2 tonnes of opium, 2.4 tonnes of
heroin, over 193.3 million stimulant tablets, over 13.5 tonnes of Ice, and 762 kilogrammes of ketamine. Additionally, 947 billion kyats of chemical precursors used in the manufacture of illicit
drugs were also seized in the same period.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) 2021 Myanmar Opinion Survey there is poppy cultivation throughout north, south and east Shan State as well as in Kachin, Chin and Kayah states.