Two high-profile National League for Democracy leaders were arrested by the Burmese military on Sunday for alleged possession of heroin.

U Ko Ko Myint, an NLD secretary and Ko Thein Zaw, a member of NLD Youth committee from Shwegu Township, Kachin State, northern Burma were arrested after police stormed their compound at about 10 pm.

The authorities said they were looking for unregistered over-night house guests when they found what appeared to be packets of heroin U Myint Thein, joint-Secretary of NLD-LA based in Thailand said.

In Rangoon it is illegal to have guests sleep at your house overnight without first registering them with the authorities.

U Myint Thein, a Rangoon NLD spokesperson, said the pair had been stitched up by the police who wanted to discredit the party and find an excuse to throw the men in jail.

Anti-drug laws are harsh in Burma and if the military brands the men guilty, they may face the death penalty. If charged, U Myint Thaung, a Rangoon-based lawyer for the NLD, said both men were expected to plead innocent.