The National Unity Government (NUG) has ordered the permanent closure of 75 toll gates and security checkpoints in Shwebo District, Sagaing Region, which were established without authorization for various purposes.
The NUG's Military Region 1 Administration ordered the closure of 75 checkpoints in Shwebo District. Township-level People's Administrations established these checkpoints for various purposes including collecting donations for road repairs, tolls or taxes, and defense funding, and they had proliferated to an average of 25 per township.
Following public complaints about the checkpoints causing expense burdens, traffic delays, and lax money-collecting regulations, the NUG ordered their closure by a February 17 deadline, according to the Shwebo District Administration's February 23 announcement.
“Before, the checkpoints on the highways in Shwebo Township were too numerous. Taxes and tolls were really high, making it tough for us to profit. But once this systematic management was put in place, both drivers and traders felt a huge relief. Traveling became much easier and smoother,” said a 40-year-old truck driver operating in the area.
The Shwebo District Administration has now ordered the closure of dozens of checkpoints, directing that only those truly necessary remain operational. It also instructed the administrative, security, and municipal units in each township to coordinate closely to ensure the remaining checkpoints operate in an organized and systematic manner.
Each checkpoint must also obtain proper authorization from the district administration before conducting any inspections from a military perspective.
“When there were so many checkpoints, it became very frustrating for the public. Some were run by unknown groups collecting money from travelers. Now, the district administration has put things in order and closed the unnecessary ones, which has been a huge relief for everyone,” a woman from Shwebo District told NMG.
The NUG plans to eventually close all checkpoints collecting tolls and taxes across its controlled areas in Sagaing Region. It is also exploring ways to use municipal taxes to repair roads that bypass towns currently held by the junta in the region.
Locals acknowledged that the NUG is working to systematically implement governance and law enforcement in resistance-controlled areas of Shwebo District, and that the crackdown on these unofficial checkpoints benefits the community.
The Shwebo District Administration warned that strict action will be taken against anyone who sets up checkpoints without following proper rules and regulations. It also urged the public to responsibly pay the prescribed taxes.
