Officials are to step up the measures of combating illegal trade realizing that it is broader than just seizing contraband goods, Vice Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win said at the coordination meeting of the Leading Committee for Combating Illegal Trade held on February 27.
Although it is difficult to control illegal entry and exit points due to the country’s geographical location, there are key routes and locations where entry points can be controlled, and if the civil servants working at those locations act with loyalty, honesty, consideration and spirit of supporting the country’s economy, more arrests and seizures can be made than now, he said.
In addition, as illegal goods are also being stored and distributed in warehouses near border gates, it is necessary to identify and take action against it, he added.
The value of illegal trade seizures is 65 billion kyats in 2022, more than 135 billion kyats in 2023 and 223 billion kyats in 2024. The value of illegal trade seizures has increased year by year. The Vice-Senior General gave instructions to officials to step up the illegal trade combating measures to ensure more effective arrests.
