Myanmar abolishes anti-smuggling teams

YANGON:-- Myanmar's Ministry of Commerce has announced the abolition of its mobile task force teams, which aimed to clamp down on the country’s thriving illegal border trade, The Irrawaddy reported.

Than Win, the director of the Ministry of Commerce, said that under the directive signed by Commerce Minister WinMyint on Dec 30 all teams were to stop their operations from Dec 30.

Since late 2012, the cross-departmental teams, including representatives of the commerce ministry, customs and police, had worked to intercept illegal overland trade, primarily in Shan State’s Muse on the border with China and in Myawaddy, Karen State, on the Thai-Myanmar border.

Over the past three years, the roving mobile teams have seized more than 50 billion kyats (US$38.2 million) worth of smuggled goods in border areas, according to the commerce ministry.

As well as operating in major towns along the country’s shared borders with China and Thailand, the teams also monitored major seaports and airports.

Commerce Minister Win Myint told a meeting of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) in September that officials had stopped the unlawful export of jade, timber, unlicensed automobiles, livestock and electronic goods.

The anti-smuggling teams had been subjected to attacks and ambushes by smuggling gangs seeking retribution for confiscated goods, according to Commerce Ministry director-general Nyunt Aung.

Representatives from the Ministry of Commerce will hold a press conference in Naypyidaw in early January to elaborate on Wednesday’s decision.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/myanmar-abolishes-anti-smuggling-teams

-- Thai PBS 2016-01-01

Hopefully we'll hear the explanation for the shutdown.

I expect Thailand's Foreign Affairs Minister will protest such shutdown. I also think it will snow in Bangkok this winter.

Annie .... get ya gun ! Its open season Hunny!