Junta’s troops coerce local travelers to buy illicit drugs in Ye Chaung Phyar

May 14, 2025

HURFOM: Locals reported to HURFOM that military junta troops stationed at the security gate near Eye Poke village, Ye Chaung Phyar region, Ye Township, Mon State are coercing local travelers to buy illicit drugs for them.

“When an uncle attempted to pass, they took him into the gate. Then, they threatened him with a knife to buy illicit drugs for them. The uncle replied he had no idea where to buy the illicit drug. There was no additional threat after his refusal,” said a local villager.

After the incident, the New Mon State Party (NMSP) filed a report with the military junta. The junta responded by transferring the troops stationed at the gate, to another regiment. The problem is not a singular event.

Both the “Ta Dar Phyu = White Bridge” and the “Eye Poke” security gates in Ye Township are known to extort truck drivers and impose a ban on the transportation of food.

“Each truck driver has to pay from 100,000 to 200,000 MMK to the junta’s troops at the “Ta Dar Phyu” security gate. They have to pay money in the tens of thousands at the “Eye Poke” gate. They only allowed one bag of rice and three gallons of gasoline to be transported,” said a resident from Ye Chaung Phyar region.

Villagers are experiencing significantly high prices for commodity products in the area due to extortion practices by junta troops’ security gates in Ye Chaung Phyar region.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News