Raw opium valued at about K400 million has been seized from makeshift heroin refineries in mountains near Pinlaung in southern Shan State, police said on January 22.

Two people were arrested during raid on the refineries, in the Lone Huu mountain range, west of Nang Naint village in Pinlaung Township, early on January 20, they said.

The raids resulted in the seizure of nearly 90 kilograms of raw opium, as well as more than K4.8 million in equipment and chemicals needed to refine it into heroin.

It takes about 10kg of raw opium to make one kilogram of heroin.

Police said they were seeking two suspects believed to have been responsible for establishing the refineries.

The two men arrested during the raids and another three people have been charged with a range of offences.