Yangon, Myanmar – July 23, 2025 – Myanmar Police Force announced a major bust of a drug trafficking ring operating via maritime routes, seizing over 48.4 billion Myanmar Kyats (MMK) worth of psychotropic drugs in Insein Township.
On July 12, at 6:30 PM, a joint team from the Anti-Narcotics Task Force, acting on intelligence, raided a rented house in Kyoekone East Ward, Insein Township. They apprehended Zaw Zaw Lwin with 1,875 kg of ICE (methamphetamine), valued at an estimated 46.875 billion MMK, and 1.6 million ecstasy pills with a local street value of 1.6 billion MMK. A Toyota Dyna vehicle was also seized at the scene.
Further investigation led to the arrest of Nay Myo Kyaw at 7:00 PM the same day on Parami Road in Hlaing Township (Ward 16). Nay Myo Kyaw was identified as the individual who transferred the seized psychotropic drugs.
Continuing the operation, on July 15, Kyi Phyu (aka Kyaw Win Htay) and Zaw Min Naing, who were responsible for transporting the psychotropic drugs and had fled towards Dawei, were apprehended near Nyaung Khashay Village in Waw Township, along with a KLUGER vehicle. It was revealed that Kyi Phyu (aka Kyaw Win Htay) was also a wanted fugitive in another drug-related case.
Later that day, at 4:30 PM, Soe Lin Paing (aka Lin Lin), who was responsible for transporting the psychotropic drugs by sea to Malaysian waters, was arrested at Nawaday Bridge in Pyay Township. The following day, July 16, at 10:30 AM, Ye Tun (aka Pae Nin aka Phoe Tha Gi), the owner of the motorboat used to transport drugs from the mouth of the Yangon River to Malaysian waters, was apprehended in Pathein Gyi Township. Ye Tun was also found to be a wanted fugitive for a previous drug offense.
Similarly, on July 17, at 4:30 PM, Thein Than Htay (aka Zaw Zaw Aung aka Ngay Htay), the owner of the Aung Ratana motorboat responsible for transporting psychotropic drugs to the mouth of the Yangon River, along with Kyaw Swar Min (aka Min Min) and Myo Tun (aka Ko Tun), were individually arrested in Mingalardon Township.
All arrested individuals have been charged under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law. Authorities are continuing to investigate and identify additional accomplices.
The Myanmar Police Force stated that this drug trafficking ring had repeatedly engaged in the illicit trade of narcotics and psychotropic drugs using maritime routes for international transport. Efforts are underway to confiscate their assets and financial gains derived from these illegal activities under the Anti-Money Laundering Law, with the aim of seizing them as public property.
Mgne/knl/ymg
