Groups under the military junta that have permitted the import of unlicensed vehicles through Myawaddy Township in Karen State are demanding up to 4 million kyats from drivers at the Gyaing Bridge (Zarthabyin) checkpoint, according to local residents and car brokers.
Unlicensed vehicles are being brought in along the Myawaddy–Kawkareik–Hpa-an road through cooperation between junta-linked groups and car brokers. The vehicles are then distributed and sold in Hpa-an and Mawlamyine townships.
A car broker from Mawlamyine said that in recent days, drivers who purchased vehicles have been stopped at the joint checkpoint operated by the military junta and the Karen Border Guard Force (BGF) on the Hpa-an–Mawlamyine road. Drivers are reportedly threatened and told they must pay 4 million kyats per vehicle to continue their journey.
“Now we cannot cross by ferry, so everyone has to pass through the Gyaing Bridge. A man from Kawkareik bought a car in Myawaddy and was driving it back. When he reached the checkpoint, he was stopped. The security team said he had to pay 4 million kyats for one unlicensed Hiace vehicle. If he refused, they threatened to arrest him and seize the car,” the broker said.
A resident from Hpa-an said that many people close to the military junta are involved in importing unlicensed vehicles from Myawaddy.
“In reality, this smuggling business is run by people close to the junta and the BGF. They are connected and work together. They pretend to make arrests for the public to see. Every day, many unlicensed cars and motorcycles enter villages such as Khayar Pyin and Thanhlaing. Some houses keep five vehicles at a time, but no action is taken. They only collect money after ordinary people buy the vehicles,” he said.
Although traffic police, police forces and soldiers under the military junta continue to arrest unlicensed vehicles in Mon and Karen states, the illegal import business has not stopped.
Sources also said that some BGF battalions that recently changed their name to the Karen National Army (KNA) switched back to using the BGF name to continue smuggling activities, as they were not officially allowed to operate under the KNA title.
Drivers said the military junta has granted authority to the Karen Border Guard Force (BGF), the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), and other groups to operate checkpoints along the Mon–Karen border roads, where goods trucks and unlicensed vehicles are inspected.
