The Illegal Trade Eradication Steering Committee held its 1/2023 Coordination Meeting at the meeting hall of the Ministry of Commerce in Nay Pyi Taw on 18 January. The Chairman of the Illegal Trade Eradication Steering Committee Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win attended the meeting and delivered a speech.
Also present at the meeting together with the Vice-Chairman of the SAC Deputy Prime Minister were Vice-Chairman of the steering committee Union Minister for Planning and Finance U Win Shein, members Union Minister for Commerce U Aung Naing Oo, deputy ministers and officials. The chairpersons of the illegal trade eradication special task forces of regions and states took part in the meeting through videoconferencing.
During the meeting, the Chairman of the Illegal Trade Eradication Steering Committee Vice-Chairman of the SAC Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the following points:
- The commodities in illegal trade worth approximately K65.056 billion were seized in 4,232 cases from January to December 2022, compared to approximately K8.459 billion in 2,240 cases in the same period of 2021. A comparison between the two years showed that the increase in the number of seized cases was 1,992 and the increase in the estimated amount of seizures was K56.597 billion.
- Of the many factors behind illegal trade, illegal trade is caused by government policy, supply and demand, transparency and trade, and customs environment, according to the transnational alliance to combat illicit trade.
- As supply and demand depend on the market, it is difficult to control them. The responsible departments are urged to strive for gaining progress in transparency and trade, and customs measures.
- In implementing the development of a country, “Rule of Law” is essential. Only when the country is under rule of law and security will it carry out economic development.
- Hence, the Nay Pyi Taw Council, region and state illegal trade eradication special task forces are to eradicate illegal trade under the law and enforce the people to follow the law as much as they can.
- In the past, inspection and seizure were conducted at trade routes and checkpoints. Later, the warehouses and buildings where illegal goods can be stored were raided to check the illegal goods acting on tip off, and action was taken against offenders. So, number of seizures went up.
- Legal border trade camps must give a smooth process for trade, and on the other hand, severe action must be taken against those who use illegal routes and posts for tax avoidance.
- In checking illegal trade, arms and ammunition and narcotic drugs were seized in addition to illegal commodities.
- Although most of the drugs seized in the past were WY tablets, it is noticed that drug producers change the distribution of drugs in the form of foodstuffs targeting the youths.
- Therefore, the youth could be victims of narcotic drugs through being curious to try it.
- In taking measures to eradicate illegal trade, region and state special task forces and relevant departments are necessary to systematically go on their adopted plans to combat illegal trade unlike doing acts only when having instructions and information from the Steering Committee.
Afterwards, the officials presented the meeting minutes of the 1/2023 meeting (draft), sought approval for the 1/2023 meeting decision (draft), and presented reports on their sectors in eradicating illegal trade. After hearing the reports, the Vice-Chairman of the SAC Deputy Prime Minister coordinated the discussions and gave concluding remarks, it is reported.
Source: MWD (19.1.2023)
- The commodities in illegal trade worth approximately K65.056 billion were seized in 4,232 cases from January to December 2022, compared to approximately K8.459 billion in 2,240 cases in the same period of 2021. A comparison between the two years showed that the increase in the number of seized cases was 1,992 and the increase in the estimated amount of seizures was K56.597 billion.
- In implementing the development of a country, “Rule of Law” is essential. Only when the country is under rule of law and security will it carry out economic development.
- Legal border trade camps must give a smooth process for trade, and on the other hand, severe action must be taken against those who use illegal routes and posts for tax avoidance.
- In checking illegal trade, arms and ammunition and narcotic drugs were seized in addition to illegal commodities.