Junta extorts truck drivers illegally importing Thai products

November 4, 2024

HURFOM: On October 9^th, 2024, the military junta announced a strict ban on illegally imported products crossing the Chinese and Thai borders. The junta believes this illegal trade benefits Ethnic Armed Organizations – EAOs.

By the second week of October, junta forces stationed at security gates along the Ah Bit-Three Pagoda Highway Road, Mudon Township, Mon State began extorting truck drivers importing Thai products via the Three Pagoda Pass.

“Before, Thai products were imported from Myawaddy. But after the restriction, the products are mainly imported from Three Pagoda Pass. Now, (the junta’s troops in the security gates said) ThI products are illegal and the importers must be fined. Then, they extorted a huge amount of money,” said a local source.

Thai products are difficult to import due to the huge extortion demands made by junta forces. Also, because the markets in Mawlamyine and Mudon have a scarcity of Thai products, prices have risen sharply.

“Earlier this month, the junta raided stores which have (illegal) Thai products, and arrests were made. Now, they have imposed a strict check on every store so no one dares to import Thai products and some products are out of stock,” said a Mawlamyine resident.

A similar situation occurred in Kyarinnseikyi-Three Pagoda Pass Highway Road and local villagers said they did not see any trucks carrying Thai products on the road at the moment.

“A truck was found carrying Thai products at Paw Law Gone village and the driver was extorted for 100,000 MMK. Another truck driver was extorted for 400,000 MMK by the junta’s forces stationed at the security gate in Hlar Ka Dar. We haven’t seen any trucks for more than a week,” said a resident from Kyarinnseikyi.

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