The New Mon State Party (NMSP) has arrested more than 30 drug using youths from Mon State’s Thanbyuzayat and Mudon Townships in the first week of March alone.
“Now, we have arrested more than 30 drug users. Most of them are between 17 and 35 years old,” said Nai Htun Ohn, from Mudon Township liaison [office] for the NMSP Moulmein District.
The drug users apprehended this past week come from Ah-nin, Pa-nga, Taung-pa, Kalaw-taw and Hton-min villages and Kamarwat Town.
Concerned with the community’s drug problem, the executive committee of the NMSP’s Moulmein District released a statement on 3 March announcing that the NMSP’s anti-drug campaign members will continue to perform searches and arrests of drug dealers and drug users. The statement continued that while apprehended drug users and dealers will be charged and punished according to current drug law, the NMSP will provide drug education and rehabilitation for arrested drug users.
“Concerned with the drug issue, the NMSP central committee has a policy. The drug dealer, drug user and drug transporter will face charges [according to] respective drug law,” said Nai Hongsar Bhonkhine, director of the NMSP’s regional development department.
Nai Hongsar Bhonkhine continued that the arrested drug users are in need of assistance and support to stop their drug use and to access and receive rehab. To provide such assistance, the NMSP will be providing a specific length of rehabilitation.
In late February, the NMSP arrested a known drug dealer after receiving information from local residents.
