The seizures were made after one suspect was caught carrying over 4 million stimulant tablets of the WY brand at the Baw Di Gone inspection gate.

Following interrogation, the suspect, U Ahsara (aka U Aye Lwin), led authorities to the monastery where 16 canvas bags containing WY brand stimulants, ammunition and explosives were discovered.

“When the Shwe Baho monastery was searched, foreign-made bullets, other ammunitions and a hand grenade were found under the bed in a store room, in addition to the stimulant tablets,” said the police colonel.

In the raid, police also seized a hand grenade, 40 foreign made 5.56mm bullets, 15 Ka-Pa-Sa (Myanmar Defense Industry) 5.56mm bullets and 39 bullets (7.62mm), added the police colonel.

Police have filed charges against three monks, including the Shwe Baho Monastery chief U Ahsara, under narcotic drugs and arms laws, said Nyan Win Oo.

The seizures and arrests were made by the newly-formed May Yu operation special forces, a unit specially set up in February to clamp down on narcotics, said State Police  Lieutenant Colonel Khin Kyaw.

Up to February 5 this year, there were 16 cases of drug seizures reported in Rakhine State. A total of 444,560 tablets of WY brand stimulants and 4.5 grams of marijuana  were seized, according to the police lieutenant colonel.

Translation by Zaw Nyunt