Maungdaw, Arakan State: Some Yaba tablet peddlers and addicts were produced in Maungdaw court on January 6, for testing their blood to find out whether they were addicted to drugs or not, said a man from Maungdaw town close to lawyers.  

On the first week of January, six men were arrested, including Nur Alam, hailing from Ghona Para of Shwe Zaar village tract of Maungdaw Township by police on suspicion of involvement in dealing in Yaba tablets.

The arrested were produced in Maungdaw court for testing their blood to find out whether they were addicted to narcotics.

In Akyab (Sittwe), the capital of Arakan, some narcotics were seized by police on January 5. Regarding this, Abu Taher of Fayazi Para of Maungdaw Township was arrested by the police. Police demanded Kyat 2 million for his release.

Amin from Ward No. 4, Shamshu of ward No.1,  Khadir Hussain of Kayan Dan, Lalu,  Aung Naing Soe, Aung Myint Naing of Ward No. 3, Noor Amin and Noor  Hakim are also drug peddlers in Maungdaw town.  They have been given a free hand in Maungdaw Township though they are peddlers because of they bribed kyat 3 million to the police of Maungdaw police station, said a trader from Maungdaw town on condition of anonymity.  

The former district police officer Aung Htay and the Township former Police officer Nyi Lwin Soe of Maungdaw Township had a nexus with drug dealers since the beginning of last year for their vested interests and not for government revenue. So, some villagers have been involved in Yaba tablet business, said a close aide of the police in Maungdaw.

On the other hand, a section of the authorities have been involved in drug business through other persons through whom the officials get a huge amount of money, said a businessman who refused to be named.