A disturbing form of assault known locally as Toh Say is emerging as a growing threat to women’s safety in Myanmar, particularly in Shan State. The criminal practice involves secretly exposing victims to psychoactive drugs—often through injection or other covert means—leaving them vulnerable to robbery, exploitation, or sexual assault.

Stories of Toh Say victims have increasingly surfaced on social media in recent months. The most recent case involved a young woman in Taunggyi, the capital of Shan State, who was drugged and manipulated but managed to escape. The incident shocked many residents, as Taunggyi was once considered one of the most peaceful and secure towns in Myanmar.

The term Toh Say refers to a method of assault in which perpetrators expose victims to dissociative drugs such as ketamine, methoxetamine, salvia divinorum, dextromethorphan, or phencyclidine. The drugs induce partial loss of consciousness, confusion, or physical paralysis, allowing criminals to control or exploit victims without rendering them fully unconscious.

Methods reportedly include blowing powder into the victim’s face, spiking food or drinks, or injecting drugs using a syringe when the target is distracted. Symptoms can appear within seconds—victims often describe a sensation of numbness, disconnection between mind and body, brief memory loss, and a feeling of heaviness.

In medical terms, the substances used are classified as dissociatives, while the act itself is best described as covert drugging.

Before the 2021 military coup, Toh Say-related crimes were almost unheard of in Taunggyi. However, incidents have reportedly increased as law enforcement has weakened and public security deteriorated under junta control.

Analysis of recent cases shows that perpetrators often use covert drugging methods to target young women and the elderly—two of the most vulnerable groups. The dissociatives used can impair awareness and control, making victims easier to manipulate during robberies, abductions, or sexual assaults.

On September 23, a 25-year-old woman from Taunggyi was reportedly exposed to Toh Say. When she regained consciousness, she found herself locked inside a warehouse in a forest near Taung Lay Lone Village in Taunggyi Township. She managed to escape the following day.

“I don’t really remember what happened. My body felt numb, and I just did whatever someone told me to do,” she told SHAN. “When the drug wore off, I heard girls crying nearby. I ran away in fear.”

Another case occurred on September 7, when a 16-year-old girl disappeared while traveling from her home in Kalaw to visit her grandmother. She was not heard from for nearly a month. Although she was later found, locals suspect that Toh Say may have been involved.

Her mother said fraudsters exploited the family’s fear by demanding ransom payments. “We got so many calls claiming our daughter had been kidnapped. They just wanted to take advantage of our desperation,” she said.

Families who report such cases to junta-controlled police rarely receive help. In some instances, police even blame the victims or their families.

Taunggyi residents say Toh Say incidents, once dismissed as rumors, are becoming alarmingly frequent.

“In the past, people thought Toh Say was just gossip. Now, I can’t deny it anymore,” said Ma Nan Nan, a 30-year-old Taunggyi resident. “Lately, we’ve been hearing about more people—especially young women—going missing.”

She added that since the junta’s enforcement of the conscription law earlier this year, abductions and disappearances have risen. “Before, people assumed missing-person cases were linked to forced conscription. But now, we think some are due to trafficking or Toh Say-related kidnappings.”

On September 22, a 60-year-old woman in Nanghu Village, Taunggyi Township, was approached by a couple selling lottery tickets. They handed her a package, claiming she had won. When she opened it, she smelled a strong odor and momentarily lost consciousness. During that time, the couple stole 50,000 kyats and a pair of earrings.

“These fraudsters were watching the villages and waiting for someone alone at home,” a local source said. “There have already been three similar cases, so now villagers don’t let strangers in.”

A 30-year-old man in Taunggyi said robberies and pickpocketing often occur after victims are exposed to Toh Say. “Now we don’t even know who to fear. Victims say the police don’t help—and some were even extorted when they tried to file a report,” he said. “Living in a country without the rule of law is really dangerous.”

Women’s rights activists say the situation reflects a wider breakdown of security and accountability since the coup.

According to Ma Hnin Hnin, an official with the Pa-O Women’s Union (PWU), incidents of gender-based violence have steadily increased since 2021.

“The weakening rule of law is benefiting perpetrators. Without proper action, keeping women safe is becoming increasingly difficult,” she said.

She stressed that protecting women’s safety is the responsibility of society as a whole. “As long as perpetrators act with impunity, women’s physical and mental well-being will remain at serious risk,” she added.