Junta extorts travelers with Magway or Sagaing ID cards in Mon State

May 8, 2025

Junta’s security forces stationed at the entrances or exits of towns in Mon State are imposing rigorous checks on travelers and extorting money from individuals holding Magway or Sagaing ID cards.

Magway or Sagaing residents who do not have recommendation letters from specific authorities were extorted from 10,000 to 50,000 MMK per person.

“There is a tough check happening at the entrance and exit of Mawlamyine City. Every express bus has to stop and every passenger must show their ID card. Both the young and the elderly were targeted. The junta’s forces asked a lot of questions to an uncle who came from Magway so he paid them 10,000 MMK. Everything was okay after the payment,” said a traveler.

Locals reported that if the security forces found a traveler from other States and Divisions in Mon State, they would ask a lot of questions and arrest individuals if they found something suspicious.

“People from other States or Divisions have to come to Mawlamyine to meet with brokers who assist them to go to Thailand. Then, they go to Thailand via the “Three Pagoda Pass” route. Now junta’s troops have realized this situation, so they try to extort more money from some travelers,” said one individual.

Undocumented migrant workers usually use the “Mawlamyine – Three Pagoda Pass” route to enter Thailand illegally so the military junta has been imposing rigorous checks in Mon State.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News