The ruling military council has accused the Arakan Army (AA) of using 70 percent of its profits from the drug trade to purchase weapons, according to Lieutenant General Tun Tun Naung, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs.
Lt. Gen. Tun Tun Naung made the remarks during a counter-terrorism central meeting held on December 29 at the Police Headquarters in Naypyitaw.
“The AA’s involvement in the drug trade has grown significantly. They are reportedly linked with international drug syndicates in smuggling chemicals for drug production, manufacturing, transporting, storing, and distributing narcotics both domestically and abroad,” he said.
According to data presented at the meeting, between 2016 and 2025, there were 24 cases of drug seizures involving the AA, of which nine were linked to the AA’s leadership, Lt. Gen. Tun Tun Naung added.
The Home Affairs Minister also accused the AA of engaging in money laundering and human trafficking.
In response to such allegations, AA spokesperson U Khine Thu Kha told the BBC in September that, “We would never commit such low-level criminal acts that bring dishonor.” He further said that these accusations are the result of military setbacks on the battlefield and have no connection to the Arakan Army.
