During 2025, as Tatmadaw gradually reestablished its pres­ence in the area, law enforce­ment operations were progres­sively intensified in cooperation with the Myanmar Police Force. As a result of these efforts, ar­rests were made involving for­eign nationals engaged in online gambling and fraud, along with the seizure of related equipment in Mongha of Mongyai township of Shan State (north) in Febru­ary 2025, Mongnaung, Kyaythee Township, Shan State (South), in November, and Taung Hteik vil­lage in Kyaukme Township, Shan State (North), in December.

In January 2026, the local ethnic residents, who did not cherish the online fraud opera­tions which were being conduct­ed in areas between Hsipaw and Mongyai Townships in northern Shan State and the acts com­mitted by insurgents such as unlawful detention and torture, forced recruitment, confiscation of valuable property owned by locals, and destruction of build­ings and roads, which severely damaged the socio-economic lives of the people, were unable to safely provide information to Tatmadaw. But, Tatmadaw columns successively recap­tured and regained control of areas temporarily dominated by terrorist insurgents, public trust and support for the Tat­madaw grew, and the people eagerly reported to Tatmadaw columns. Therefore, Tatmadaw conducted aerial surveillance and ground intelligence many times, and found the involve­ment not only in online fraud but also in drug-related activities. Therefore, the government and Tatmadaw decided to conduct special operations. Tatmadaw deployed three battalions, while the Myanmar Police Force de­ployed three police commando units, operating at full strength. This operation became the most extensive narcotics suppression operation in history, in terms of scale of clearance, destruction, and seizures.

The government and Tat­madaw have expressed recog­nition, pride, and appreciation for the security personnel who carried out their duties with dedication and perseverance under challenging conditions to ensure the success of the opera­tion. Moreover, the government, led by the Acting President and Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, issued instructions to personally present cash awards to security personnel stationed in the operational areas.

While seizing the narcotic drugs, materials used in drug manufacturing, and equipment used in online fraud and gam­bling activities in Hsipaw and Mongyai townships of Shan State (North), the site used for online fraud and gambling was dis­covered about nine kilometres northwest of Narlin village, whereas a drug manufacturing base about 800 metres east of that site, first drug production site near Manphyet Village about 26 kilometres southeast of Mon­gyai, a second drug production site about 20 kilometres south­west of Mongyai and a third main drug manufacturing site about19 kilometres southwest of the sec­ond site.

In the course of these dis­coveries, temporary shelters used for online fraud and gam­bling activities, computers, Star­link devices, and other related equipment were seized from the respective locations. Also confis­cated were chemical liquids and related chemical materials used in drug production, tablet-press machines, packing machines used for narcotics packaging, heavy machinery and associated equipment, and buildings used in the operations. Moreover, SSPP/ SSA uniforms, rank insignia, shoulder patches, and individu­als connected to the organization were seized and arrested, along with those involved in narcotics manufacturing and those par­ticipating in online fraud and gambling activities.

He continued that when the seized drug-manufacturing equipment and materials were subjected to preliminary exam­inations by joint teams including technical experts, it was initial­ly discovered that heroin and methamphetamine were being produced. Based on estimations derived from the chemical sub­stances seized at the second lo­cation mentioned above, it was assessed that approximately 27 tonnes of ICE, valued at about K540 billion, could be produced. If converted into tablet form, it would be possible to produce about 810 million methamphet­amine tablets. If these tablets enter the market, narcotic drugs worth an estimated K1,620 billion would have been circulated. The analysis of the seized drug-man­ufacturing equipment and ma­terials from the site revealed that the facilities were capable of routinely producing quanti­ties exceeding 27 tonnes of ICE or more than about 810 million methamphetamine tablets.

It was also observed that the packaging styles of narcotic drugs previously seized within Myanmar matched exactly the packaging styles produced us­ing the machinery discovered at these sites. Based on exami­nations of the seized drug pack­aging bearing the label “Guan Yin Wang” and other packages labelling with Chinese charac­ters, the volume produced and distributed from the two seized locations accounted for about 33.44 per cent of the total amount of ICE seized nationwide during 2025. The terrorist groups mainly rely on the production and trans­port of narcotic drugs as a major source of income. The maritime exit routes are being utilized by the AA group, routes into Thai­land by the KNU, KNLA, and PDF groups, and routes into In­dia by the PDF and CNF groups, respectively.

He also talked about the close cooperation with neigh­bouring countries, ASEAN mem­bers, Mekong regions, BIMSTEC members, international drug control organizations including the UN, comprehensive cooper­ation as a national task by every country to ensure the eradica­tion, and proper international participation in anti-drug ac­tivities of Myanmar to achieve success as quickly as possible.

He continued that the Myan­mar government is combatting drug production and trafficking, online fraud and gambling as a national duty, and will take effec­tive action against any organi­zation involved in these cases.

He further explained that drug production, trafficking, and online fraud and gambling ac­tivities are not only harmful to the citizens of Myanmar but also pose serious threats to neigh­bouring countries. Therefore, the entire people are urged to collectively oppose such activi­ties and to promptly provide any information they obtain to the relevant authorities.

After the ceremony, attend­ees observed around the related equipment used in producing narcotic drugs, the seized items, and photos.

The Commission Mem­ber Union Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Tun Tun Naung and Leader of NDSC Informa­tion Team and Deputy Minister for Information, and relevant of­ficials, together with diplomats, domestic and foreign media out­lets travelled by helicopter to a drug-manufacturing site near Man Phat Village, located about 26 kilometre southeast of Mon­gyai in northern Shan State. At the site, temporary structures, chemical substances, and re­lated equipment used in drug production were explained area by area. The officials and mem­bers of the security forces who participated in the exposure and seizure operations provid­ed clarifications and answered questions raised.

The Commission Member and party then proceeded to an­other major drug-manufacturing site located about 19 kilometres southwest of that area. The rel­evant officials provided clarifi­cation and answered questions regarding the chemical sub­stances and equipment used in drug production.

Union Minister Lt-Gen Tun Tun Naung and Leader of NDSC Information Team Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun presented K100million provided by Acting President and Chairman of State Security and Peace Commission for Tat­madaw members and Myanmar Police Force members partici­pating in anti-drug operations on behalf of the Acing President to North-East Command Com­mander Brig-Gen Aye Min Oo and Deputy Chief of Police of the Myanmar Police Force Police Maj-Gen Win Bo.

Then, the temporary shel­ters, chemical substances, and related equipment used in drug manufacturing were explained area by area, and responsible officials and security force mem­bers involved in the exposure and seizure operations provid­ed further clarifications and an­swered questions.

The Union Minister and par­ty observed the drug manufac­turing site about 20 kilometres northwest of Mongyai by heli­copter and returned.

Today, security forces who participated in the operation to uncover and seize drug produc­tion sites answered questions from the media as follows: -

A police member

We arrived at Mongphyat on 8 January. On 9 January, police, Tatmadaw, and commando units all gathered carefully and then marched together from Mong­phyat. It had taken us two days to come this far. We also had to cross creeks. One of the creeks was about 20 feet wide and eight feet deep, and we crossed it care­fully to avoid any danger. During this operation, we arrested sus­pects. In addition, there were uniforms that were recovered as well. These buildings were also secured intact, without any damage. We carried out the operation according to the pro­cedures of the Myanmar Police Force, following the directives of the Union Minister for Home Affairs, instructions from the Chief of Police, and under the close supervision of responsible officers. The Myanmar Police Force will continue to collaborate with Tatmadaw in eradicating illegal drugs.

A Tatmadaw member

Starting on 9 January, we marched from Mongphyat. The main reason for this operation was that we had received or­ders from higher authorities to eradicate narcotic drugs, so we studied the terrain and set out. The fighting occurred in a short time. At the beginning of our march, we captured one person – a 37-year-old man. Later, after reaching the area and completing the security operations, six more men were arrested, bringing the total to seven. When we arrived, we went up a difficult mountainous area, not the location the targets had expected. The creek nearby was quite deep, with a strong current. Crossing it together with both Tatmadaw column and the police commando units was risky and could have taken a long time. Therefore, I advised the police Major to separate the forces into two groups to cross the creek more efficiently. By 7 am, we had fully raided the area. At that time, those from the drug-related area fled in disarray. — MNA/KTZH