Border News Agency
Mrauk-U, July 10
Residents say that the use of so-called “ASEAN Kratom leaves” as a narcotic is on the rise in areas under the control of the Arakan Army.
Although the Arakan Army has banned the use of Kratom leaves, locals report that usage is increasing in townships such as Ponnakyun, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, and Minbra.
“The number of users is increasing. In the past, only a few people used it occasionally, maybe once every few months. Even then, they only used it once in a while, either as a stimulant or a narcotic. But now, more and more people are using it regularly,” a resident of Mrauk U told Border News Agency.
Locals say that the Kratom leaves are often dried and mixed with tobacco for smoking, while others boil the leaves and use them like a narcotic substance.
On December 27, the Arakan Army raided and destroyed areas where these Kratom plants were being cultivated.
They also issued a warning that cultivation must stop entirely, and that legal action will be taken against anyone found growing the plants in the future.
Locals say that Kratom leaves have traditionally been used as herbal medicine to relieve muscle pain and to help endure physical exhaustion.
However, it is reported that many students and young people are now mixing boiled Kratom leaf extract with sweetened energy drinks and using it as a narcotic.
“These days, young people are using it almost all the time. Since students and youths aren’t allowed to drink alcohol at home, when they mix the boiled Kratom leaf extract with sweetened energy drinks, it just looks like a regular soft drink. So I think it’s easier for them to consume. They gather in groups and drink it together. Afterward, their eyes droop and they doze off just like drug addicts. They consume large amounts of the Kratom extract and use it as a narcotic,” a resident of Kyauktaw told Border News Agency.
Locals say that the increased use of Kratom leaf extract as a narcotic began after the Arakan Army banned the sale of commercial alcohol and beer in the areas under its control.
They also report that many youths are now gathering in secluded places such as cemeteries, abandoned buildings, and remote areas to consume large quantities of Kratom extract, often becoming visibly intoxicated.
Locals also say that middle-aged adults have started consuming Kratom leaf extract on a near-daily basis, often as a way to cope with physical exhaustion from work.
“They say that the boiled Kratom leaf extract is just as addictive as opium. Once people start drinking it, they lose all motivation to do anything. Even if someone tries to harm them, they won’t open their eyes or react. After prolonged use, they become addicted, and when they try to quit, they experience anxiety and restlessness. In the past, only those who were physically tired used the boiled leaves about once a week to relieve pain and soreness. But now, there are people who consume it almost every day. The AA has banned the cultivation of these plants, but despite that, users continue to consume them,” a resident of Arakan told Border News Agency.
twenty leaves, the price can reach up to 10,000 kyats, locals say.
In some townships controlled by the Arakan Army, people say the leaves are easy to buy.
Because of the increasing number of users consuming Kratom as a narcotic, more farmers are growing the plants, and the cultivation areas are expanding, according to residents.
Locals also say that a single young Kratom plant can be worth over 20,000 kyats.
“The leaves are sold by bunches, with about twenty leaves costing around 10,000 kyats. As the number of users increases, more farmers are planting the Kratom trees. In Mrauk U town, especially in the Thammaraza ward, people are growing them more frequently in their homes. Some also sell the young plants. Mainly, they are cultivating them because it’s an easy way to make money,” an Arakan resident told Border News Agency.
If the boiled Kratom leaf extract is used continuously and excessively as a narcotic, it can cause addiction, increased anxiety, depression, difficulty concentrating, memory loss, sudden mood swings, irritability, and other noticeable psychological effects.
