Tatmadaw seized narcotic drugs worth more than Ks-1,305.21 billion, exposed 715 illegal migrants in 2020
Nay Pyi Taw January 21
The Tatmadaw has been eradicating danger of narcotic drugs which can ruin all the nationals in cooperation with relevant departments and security organizations in successive eras. In so doing, the Tatmadaw seized narcotic drugs worth more than Ks-1,305.20 billion in 2020.
The Tatmadaw carried out drug eradication in successive eras. The first narcotic drug eradication operation was launched to combat the opium refinery built by SURA (Moe Hein) group in Panpi area of Langkho Township, Shan State (South) in 1975. The largest and longest drug eradication operation was held as Moe Hein operation phase 1 to phase 12 in Shan State (North) and Shan State (East) from 1976 to 1988. During the operation period, a total of 69 officers and other ranks from the Tatmadaw fell and 451 were injured.
While discharging State security and defence duties, the Tatmadaw has been emphasizing the drug eradication tasks as military operations yearly in successive eras. At present, combined checkpoints are opened along Pyidaungsu Highway and the sites of narcotic drugs were exposed and seized acting on a tip-off.
In so doing, the drug eradication operation was performed in Loikham area of Kutkai Township in Shan State (North) to seize narcotic drugs worth more than Ks-314 billion of estimated value including more than 140 million assorted stimulant tablets, more than 286 kilos of heroin and over 440 kilos of ICE, and 249 items of related equipment including drug moulding machines, tablet pressing rods worth more than Ks-1 billion of estimated value from 28 February to 16 March in 2020. International media mentioned the seizure of narcotic drugs and related accessories was the largest in Southeast Asia. Military attachés of foreign military attaché offices to Myanmar and media observed the seizure of the narcotic drugs on 6 March.
In 2020, narcotic drugs and related accessories including over 930 kilos of heroin, more than 2,400 kilos of raw opium, over three kilos of opium, more than 350 kilos of marijuana, over 250 million stimulant tablets, over 1,100 kilos of ICE and over 47,000 kilos of other related accessories worth more than Ks-874 billion were seized in Shan State, more than 14 million stimulant tablets and over 1,600 kilos of ICE worth more than Ks-144 billion in Yangon Region, and over 2.2 million stimulant tablets and over 1,300 kilos of ICE worth over Ks-76 billion in Rakhine State.
Likewise, over 500 kilos of heroin, over 180 kilos of raw opium, more than 1.8 million stimulant tablets, over 2,300 kilos of ICE and over 22,000 kilos of other related accessories worth more than Ks-210 billion in total were seized in other regions and states respectively.
As to the seizure of narcotics in 2020, over 1,438 kilos of heroin, over 2,585 kilos of raw opium, over 3 kilos of opium, over 353 kilos of marijuana, over 290 million stimulant tablets, over 16,891 kilos of ICE and over 69,812 kilos of related accessories worth over Ks-1,305.21 billion were seized and over 9,456 acres of poppy plantations destroyed. Emphasis is being placed on fighting narcotics as a military operation.
Besides, the Tatmadaw is trying to prevent illegal entry to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. In the drive, 715 people who entered the country illegally were exposed and arrested in 2020.The Tatmadaw has been stopping and preventing illegal migrants entering the western parts of the country in successive eras.
Mujahidin were roaming in Buthidaung-Maungtaw region in 1948. As they incinerated and surrounded the local villages for 40 days in November, No. 5 Burma Rifle Battalion launched a military operation and saved the
villages. Meyu and Motthon operations were launched in 1952 and 1954. To eliminate illegal immigration, the Tatmadaw joined hands with departmental officials and security forces in Naga Min and Hintha operations in 1978.
Nowadays also, illegal migrants are entering the country’s western parts with the help of human traffickers and then going to other countries. So, the Tatmadaw is preventing such illegal entry in collaboration with departmental officials and security troops. In exposing illegal migrants by regional patrolling teams and security forces, 104 persons were arrested in Rakhine State, 111 in Yangon Region, 144 in Ayeyawady Region, 208 in Magway Region and 148 in other regions totalling 715.
Those illegal migrants were handed over to relevant departments for their deportation and deterrent legal action against human traffickers. The Tatmadaw is continuing to cooperate with departmental officials and security forces in preventing the entry of illegal migrants.