Three men, including a Buddhist monk, were arrested around 6 pm on Sunday evening after being linked to more than four million methamphetamine pills in their car and monastery.
According to the Irrawaddy, they were busted by the Mayu Operation, an anti-narcotics task force.
The monk, whose legal name is Aye Lwin but goes by U Arsara, and one of the men, Min Naing, were driving from Shwe Baho village in the town of Maungdaw in Rakhine State. When authorities stopped and searched their vehicle at the Bawdhikone checkpoint, they found 40 packets of methamphetamine pills wrapped in black plastic in the backseat of the car. Police estimate that the packets contained a total of approximately 300,000 pills worth MMK600 million.
Authorities then searched the Shwe Baho monastery where U Arsara resides, and found 15 burlap sacks holding an additional 4 million pills approximately worth a total K8 billion. They also discovered a BA-91 hand grenade, a fuse, and 94 bullets of different makes and sizes inside a building next to the monastery.
Another man, Thein Shwe, who lived within the monastery compound was also taken into custody.
This was the first time that Maungdaw police had arrested a monk in connection with drugs.
All three men, along with the confiscated car and materials, are currently being held at the Maungdaw Police Station.
Myanmar is one of the world’s leading narcotics-production countries, especially when it comes to cannabis, opium, and methamphetamines. Most production occurs in remote areas along the border, such as Maungdaw.
Two men were also arrested in the Rakhine town last September after 6.2 million methamphetamine tablets were discovered in their car.
According to reports, 2016 was a record year for methamphetamine seizures within the country, as police confiscated a total 98 million tablets over the course of the year — nearly double the 50 million seized in 2015.
