Govt to impose harsher penalties on illicit traders; port inspections to be stepped up
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The Myanmar government is set to launch a new regulation today to control illegal imports and exports, especially through overseas trade routes.
It will adopt harsher punishment, such as a three-year imprisonment for illegal exports/imports under the new Export-Import Law (2012), Tin Ye Win, a director-general at the commerce ministry, told a press conference in Yangon.
Under the new programme, illegal imports and exports will be monitored at every port of entry and exit, starting from August 12, but punishments will be enforced only from September 1.
Meanwhile, the Central Committee of Illegal Trade Control is required to raise awareness and educate the stakeholders about the initiative. Consumers welcomed the government’s move, saying it would reduce the amount of harmful goods in the market which are illegally imported through overseas trade routes.
Image boost
Preventing illegal trade will present the government with a good image, especially when President Thein Sein visits foreign countries to discuss bilateral trade cooperation, said Tin Ye Win, who is also the central committee member for the control of illegal trade.
In the past seven months, the committee’s mobile teams have seized illegal goods worth 6 billion kyats (Bt192.7 million). The offenders were fined but not given any severe punishment.
Monetary punishments under the overseas trade law were not effective enough in curbing such dishonest activities, Tin Ye Win noted.
With the problem continuing, some people have alleged that committee members are corrupt, taking bribes from illicit traders. However, investigations into these allegations have proved the innocence and integrity of the committee members, which even the president has praised, Tin Ye Win said.
“Looking at bribery cases, it was found that only some government officials were dismissed. The merchants weren’t punished with even a small penalty. Both parties should be punished in reality. Actually, although our committee continuously seizes illegal goods, the traders easily claim back their goods by paying a penalty. It really disheartens us,” he noted.
