Myanmar navy seizes 1.5 tonnes of narcotics destined for Malaysia

Source: The Star

YANGON: Myanmar's naval authorities have seized 1.5 tonnes of methamphetamine destined for Malaysia, the country's Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC) said late Friday (Feb 23).

The narcotic drugs were confiscated in Pathein township of Ayeyarwady region on Feb 12, following subsequent rounds of investigations and arrests after the naval authorities' inspection of a suspicious boat in Myanmar territorial waters near Hainggyikyun town of Ayeyarwady region on Jan 22, the CCDAC said.

In connection with the case, Myanmar authorities have also seized firearms, ammunition and controlled substances in Mandalay and Taninthayi regions between Feb 14 and 16, it said.

The seized firearms consisted of two guns and 91 bullets, while the confiscated controlled chemicals included 16,400 litres of methylamine, 1,200 litres of sulphuric acid, 560 litres of hydrochloric acid and 12,400 litres of benzyl cyanide, it said.

The confiscated narcotics and controlled substances are worth over 45.28 billion kyats (over US$21 million), the CCDAC said.

The narcotics and controlled substances, originating from Shan state and stored in Mandalay, were intended for transportation into Malaysian waters via Pathein.

A total of 19 suspects were arrested for the case and charged under the country's Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law, it said.

Further investigations were underway, it added. - Xinhua