Two youths from Maungdaw town were sentenced to 14 years in jail each on July 11, on the allegation that they were involved in heroin smuggling.

The youths were identified as Md. Rofique alias China (26), hailing from Ward No. 5 of Maungdaw Town and Ayub (32), son of Noor Hakim from the same Ward.

On February 14, a police agent named Shah Alam (38), son of Osiur Rahman from the same Ward of Maungdaw Town, provided two bundles to the youths to send to a place where police were sitting and waiting for the carriers. The police had provided Kyat 3,000 each to carry the bundles.

When the two youths reached the place as directed by the police agent, the police arrested them for drug trafficking. But, the arrestees told them that the bundles belonged to Shah Alam and they were carriers and did not known what was inside. The police agent Shah Alam was also arrested by police, but later released.

After arrest the two youths were brought to the police station in Maungdaw Town, where they were detained.

On July 11, they were produced in Maungdaw court and sentenced to 14 years in prison each for drug trafficking.

According to villagers, the police agent had an enmity with the two youths, and wanted revenge. The agent will get a reward from the police.

In northern Arakan, a police or Nasaka or army agent is very powerful, so, villagers are afraid of the agent, said a local youth.