The military council was hunting down people who were exchanging Myanmar currency for Thai baht in Myawaddy, Karen State, on the border with Thailand, according to money changers confirmed to Than Lwint Times.

After the military council and its subordinates cracked down on those services, money changers ceased providing their services with increased baht prices.

In Myawaddy, there are hundreds of people trading currencies illegally, even though there are only 11 licensed exchangers in total.

However, on August 13, after seven money changers were accused of operating illegal currency exchange businesses and were arrested, their services stopped.

Migrant workers and vendors primarily use illegal money changers to exchange baht for kyats in the border town of Myawaddy in Karen State between Thailand and Myanmar.

Migrants and traders are currently having trouble exchanging money because the exchange offices are closed, and the percentage of money exchanged is higher compared to earlier.

Over the course of the 18 months since the military takeover, the price of the Thai baht has increased to around 100 kyats per baht.