Myanmar side using drugs as currency, says Bangladesh newspaper; revolutionary force says working to establish rule of law

June 30 Mizzima. -- The Daily Star, a Bangladesh-based newspaper, reported that the seizure of Yaba and psychotropic pills in Bangladesh has increased by more than 90.58 percent compared to the previous year, and that Myanmar armed groups are using drugs as currency. The report, published on June 28, cited statistics from the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) of Bangladesh. Myanmar's Rakhine and Chin states border Bangladesh. MD Hasan Maruf, Director General of the DNC, was quoted as saying that the increase in drug flow to the west is due to Myanmar's armed groups using Yaba pills as "narco-currency." "Although we have limitations in entering Myanmar territory to conduct operations, we always conduct raids and searches whenever we receive information about drug smuggling," the DNC Director General was quoted as saying in The Daily Star report. Salai Tin Myint, spokesperson for the Chin Brotherhood, said, "Our situation is that the military junta cannot fully control the ground, and we also cannot fully control it. There are areas where the rule of law is weak on both sides. Drug trafficking occurs in those areas, and we have seized and detained some. We are also seeing drug production due to the current difficult times." The Chin Brotherhood stated that they are working to establish the rule of law in the areas they control. The DNC Director General said that DNC officials will soon receive modern weapons and advanced training to combat armed drug smugglers who are using modern technology. Editor: Aung Kyaw Phyo