Allegations Emerge of Misappropriation of Detainee Supplies at Buthidaung Detention Facility

Family members and local residents have raised serious allegations that staff at a detention facility in Buthidaung, reportedly under the control of the Arakan Army (AA), are confiscating food, clothing, and money sent to detainees and failing to deliver them.

According to accounts gathered from affected families, detainees are being held without formal charges or court orders, and items sent for their basic needs are not reaching them. In one reported case, a detainee was sent packages on March 8 and March 22, 2026, which included food, clothing, and 50,000 Myanmar Kyat. The detainee later informed family members through a letter that none of the items had been received.

Relatives said they are not permitted to meet detainees in person and are required to leave all supplies with facility staff, who assure them the items will be delivered. However, families claim that this process lacks transparency and accountability.

“We are not allowed any direct contact. We have to hand everything over to the staff, but the detainee later told us nothing reached him,” one family member said, expressing concern over the situation.

Other families have alleged that successful delivery of items depends on personal connections or informal payments. They claim that without such arrangements, supplies are unlikely to reach detainees, raising concerns about possible corruption within the system.

Direct visits between detainees and their families are reportedly restricted, with officials citing higher-level orders. Communication is said to be limited to written correspondence, leaving families unable to independently verify the conditions of those in custody.

Families also report that, in some cases, they have been instructed to send supplies through an intermediary, identified as an intelligence officer based in Wimala Ward of Myo-u Village, following directions received from detainees.

Local residents have called for an impartial investigation into the allegations. They have urged relevant authorities to ensure accountability, take appropriate action against any wrongdoing, and uphold the basic rights and welfare of detainees held at the facility.