According to local sources, authorities in Hpa-An Township, Karen State, are reselling Thai goods confiscated during recent crackdowns at discounted prices to government staff and local residents.
Since early February, joint teams including the military junta, the Border Guard Force (BGF) and the Karen National Liberation Army–Peace Council (KNLA-PC) have carried out inspections and seizures of Thai products and unlicensed vehicles at entry and exit points to Hpa-An, as well as in residential areas.
A local man from Hpa-An said the seized goods are first kept by military units. Items not used by the units are then sold to village administrators, who in turn resell them to nearby government employees and residents at about half the market price.
“When Thai goods are seized at checkpoints, they are first stored at military battalions. Whatever they don’t use is sold to village administrators at very low prices. For example, cooking oil is limited to three containers per person. Then government staff resell the goods to civilians,” he said.
At the Nawnglong checkpoint, a main entrance to Hpa-An, inspections of Thai cosmetics, medicines, food and other consumer goods have been tightened. Drivers said those whose goods are confiscated are not allowed to have them returned, even if they offer to pay.
Although cargo trucks transporting goods from Myawaddy on the Thai-Myanmar border to Hpa-An mainly use forest routes, they continue to face seizure by junta authorities.
At the Abit checkpoint, drivers transporting small quantities of Thai household goods reportedly have to pay around 500,000 kyat per vehicle, according to a driver providing cross-border transport services.
“They are just collecting money. At first, it was about 250,000 kyat per vehicle for over a month. They said it was due to changes in responsible officials. Now it costs more than 500,000 kyat per vehicle. If they find a box of Mama instant noodles from Thailand, they will be fined 500,000 kyat. We have no choice but to pass through, depending on the situation,” he said.
Drivers added that even after paying the required fees, they still risk having their goods confiscated or must make additional payments if they encounter joint inspection teams.
In recent days, inspections targeting unlicensed goods have been tightened again at the Hpa-An checkpoint, the Sable Cave Bridge checkpoint and the Abit checkpoint, all of which connect Mon and Karen states, further restricting the import of Thai goods.
