Vice Chairman of State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win, addresses meeting (2/2022) of Illegal Trade Eradication Steering Committee
NAY PYI TAW April 28
Vice Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win, in his capacity as Chairman of the Illegal Trade Eradication Steering Committee addressed the committee’s meeting (2/2022) held at the Ministry of Commerce in Nay Pyi Taw at 2 pm today.
The meeting was attended by Union ministers, deputy ministers, members of Nay Pyi Taw Council, the chairman of Revenue Appellate Tribunal, permanent secretaries, directors general and officials while officials from various regionsand states attended it via video link.
First, the Vice-Senior said today’s meeting was third, expressing thanks to committee members, relevant departments and organizations for their greater cooperation in fight against illicittrade.
Seizures of illegal goods were reported to the SAC office. Upon reports of the meeting (1/2022) and the seizures in February 2022, the SAC chairman gave guidance on more effective measures as illegal trade still exists. In his tour of Kengtung in Shan State (East) also, gave instructions on supervisory measures against illegal trade in carrying out border trade activities.
Speedy measures are necessary as instructed by the Head of State who himself pays attention to eradication of illegal trade.
There were 298 seizures worth Ks-6.324 billion in January, 247 seizures worth Ks-3.150 billion in February and 301 seizures worth Ks-3.430 billion in March this year.
After the meeting (1/2021), there were 864 seizures worth Ks-12.904 billion in three months of 2022. In comparison with the same period of last year, 345 more seizures worth Ks-11.089 billion could be made.
In comparison with the whole previous year which saw the amount of Ks-8.459 billion, Ks-4.445 billion more worth of seizures could be made in three months.
Without complacency, we need speedier measures to combat illegal trade as it still exists causing a blow to the State and its economic sector.
Among the seizures were restricted goods, goods without custom duty, explosives, raw chemicals, narcotics and unlicensed vehicles.
If they were meant for use inside the country, it would be a great danger to the national people. If they went abroad, it would harm the State image.
So, on-duty personnel need to daringly take strict measures against seizures.
As there was no seizure in the past, one progress now is that there were seizures in Kachin State and Magway Region. Despite regular seizures at border areas, airports, ports and inland areas, there are still weakness in the coastal regions.
Region and state anti-illegal trade special forces and OSS combined forces are to report to the steering committee if they have any difficulty. And coordination will be sought as necessary.
Concerning the arrests, relevant departments have cooperated to give cash rewards in a timely manner, which helps raise enthusiasm of relevant staff to combat illegal trade.
In taking action against illegal trade, unlicensed vehicles as well as those transported illegal goods were confiscated in accordance with laws, orders, directives and rules and regulations but the confiscated motorcycles were damaged to the unusable conditions due to the lack of proper maintenance, causing enormous losses.
Similarly, vehicles confiscated were inspected, only seven out of 257 vehicles or just 2.4 percent of the confiscated vehicles were actually used and it is necessary to find out ways and means to solve the problem. To solve the problem, relevant ministries are required to organize meetings and workshops by inviting experts.
In combating illegal trade, it is necessary to apply only one standard as to rules and regulations for confiscations of vehicles and transferring them to relevant departments without employing different practices. It is important to strictly follow directives, laws and rules and regulations for transporting illegal goods, restricted goods and unlevied goods.
Staff of union level ministries and departments involved in combating illegal trade are required to understand laws and rules and regulations of each other relevant departments.
Especially, it is necessary to organized training courses to enable staff involved in combat against illegal trade to understand the directives, the SOPs, laws, rules and regulations thoroughly so that they can make right decisions.
Concerning foods, drugs and cosmetics that are harmful to public health, it is necessary to speed up the implementation of policies to be jointly carried out by relevant ministries and departments adopted at the launching ceremony of the policy of national level food and drug administration held yesterday at the MICC-II.
Although it is beneficial for the country to combat illegal trade, it hurts the business interests of those who involved in the activities. Therefore, they want to take revenge on staff involved in combating illegal trade and they try to harm the staff directly or indirectly by employing various ways and means. Therefore, necessary instructions have been given to relevant ministries, OSS teams and security forces to take measures for the security of the staff. It is necessary for head of departments to take security measures for them by treating staff who are performing state duties as their family members. In combating illegal trade, there are cases exposed by conducting checks as well as cases that are exposed thanks to the information given by the responsible members of the public.
During the period from January to April 2022, there were 29 cases tipped off by the public, 22 arrests, five cases based on wrong information, one case in which action was taken late and one on-going case and it was found that 76 percent of the cases tipped off by the public were actual illegal trading activities.
There have been tip-offs till now followed by arrests. But if compared to the situation of illegal trade, the number of tip-offs is smaller. Therefore, arrangements are to be made for broader awareness of the public so that they know they could make complaints over illegal trade.
Cooperative efforts and measures are to be sped up to ensure eradication of illegal trade. Similarly, coordination is to be made to amend necessary procedures and to follow them.
Actions are taken against the illegal trade and educational measures are to be taken as well.
Next, Secretary of the Steering Committee Deputy Minister for Commerce U Nyunt Aung briefed on actions taken as per the decisions made at the 1/2022 Meeting and the tasks of the Leading Committee being carried out.
Afterwards, Leader of Office Team of the Steering Committee Deputy Director-General U Aung Thwin Oo, Director-General of Trade Department U Myint Thura, Director-General of Customs Department U Thein Swe, Director-General of Consumer Affairs Department U Myint Cho and Director-General of FDA Professor Dr Khin Zaw briefed on the reports presented to the 2/2022 Meeting of Anti-Illegal Trade Steering Committee.
Then, Vice Chairmen of the Steering Committee Union Ministers Lt-Gen Soe Htut and U Win Shein, Member of the Steering Committee Union Minister Dr Pwint Hsan, Deputy Minister for Defence Maj-Gen Aung Lin Tun and officials reported on sector-wise matters on antiillegal trade measures followed by the resolution (draft) of the 2/2022 Meeting by the leader of Office Team of the Steering Committee.
Later, the Vice-Senior General made coordination on the reports and gave concluding remarks on the meeting.