The head of Myanmar’s military government has charged that a major offensive in the country’s northeast by an alliance of armed ethnic minority organisations was funded in part by profits earned from the region’s lucrative drug trade, state-controlled media reported.
The allegation made by Senior Gen Min Aung Hlaing came after his government was caught off guard by fierce fighting in several towns in the country’s northeastern border region.
On Oct 27, the Arakan Army, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, branding themselves the Three Brotherhood Alliance, launched a coordinated offensive in northern Shan state.
The military has acknowledged losing control of three towns in northern Shan State, including a major border crossing point for trade with China.
“Today’s problem in Shan State (North) was triggered by narcotic drug problems,” the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper cited Hlaing saying at a meeting Wednesday of the state National Defence and Security Council.
“Earnings from narcotic drugs were spent on seizing power through the armed struggle. Such a plan was covered by drug production and trafficking,” the newspaper reported on Thursday.
The group he accused of drug trafficking, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, denied his allegation.
Large-scale drug production and trafficking has long been rife in Myanmar’s border areas, historically involving opium and heroin, and in the past decade methamphetamine.
The drug trade has been attributed to various ethnic minority groups for funding their armed movements, but members of the army have also been accused of involvement. — AP
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