Vehicle drivers have reported that police forces under the military junta, along with Border Guard Forces (BGF), are excessively increasing toll fees at the entry gates of Thaton-Bilin-Kyaikto towns on the Mawlamyine-Yangon highway.
Police and BGF personnel are stationed along the Thaton-Bilin-Kyaikto road, collecting high tolls from cargo trucks and even small vehicles. Reportedly, there are no standardized rates, and fees reach up to tens of thousands of kyats.
"They aren't checking for security but charging 5,000 kyats per private car. I'm not sure whether the higher-ups know about these extra earnings or if they are actually allowing it, but this kind of toll hike affects the cost of goods," said a driver from Paung Township.
Before September, each checkpoint would charge around 1,000 kyats for a small vehicle, but this has recently escalated to 5,000 kyats per vehicle. Similarly, tolls for cargo trucks have increased from 5,000 kyats to as much as 50,000 kyats.
"In Bilin, the most problematic gates are at Ma Saw, Kyone Eik, and Thae Phyu Chaung. They started collecting fees after road repairs, but it's gotten worse lately. Drivers have to pay to proceed; if not, they're forced to stop, causing long vehicle lines behind them," the driver added.
Over ten checkpoints manned by the military junta police and BGF units are spread along the Thaton-Bilin-Kyaikto road, with daily collections reportedly amounting to hundreds of thousands of kyats.
Although transport routes have seen some improvements, toll fees for transporting goods have surged, making the cost of transport higher than ever.
"People are suffering. For instance, a can of cooking oil, which might cost 10,000 kyats, ends up being 50,000 kyats after adding transport and road tolls. Their main purpose seems to be asking for money," a merchant shared.
In addition to toll fee collection, checkpoints on the Mawlamyine-Yangon highway are reportedly examining the mobile phones of locals and travelers, and in cases where suspicious information is found, detentions, beatings, and extortion are allegedly occurring, according to local sources.
