Seizure of Myanmar-bound weapons highlights need for tighter security inspections
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Phyo/ Pearl(NP News)-Oct 5
A military source told The Statesman that although weapons that could threaten domestic security were seized, inspections need to be tightened as they could continue smuggling into Myanmar.
On October 2, two Thai nationals, aged 38 and 70, were found carrying weapons and ammunition destined for Myanmar at the Huai Ya U checkpoint on the Mae Sot-Tak road on the Thai-Myanmar border.
It is reported that a search of the vehicle revealed four types of ammunition including 81 mm grenade launcher rounds, packed in four blue bags; 40 mm RPG-7 rockets, packed in four bags; Rocket launcher shells, packed in one bag and 5.56 mm bullets, stored in cloth bags.
“Right now, these weapons were seized at the Huai Ya-U checkpoint. Since there are precedent seizures at the other checkpoints, they seem to chage the route. The weapons are intended to be transported into Myanmar, not to Kayin State. The 81 mm grenade launcher rounds are widely used in the military. The ones seized now were reportedly produced in Singapore. The Tatmadaw use domestically manufactured ones. Once these weapons passed the gate, they could be very useful to terrorist groups. Compared to the weapons previously obtained, these are far more dangerous and expensive. Intercepting them before they reach the destination has saved many civilian lives. Even without these weapons, the group still fires mortars and projectiles manually. If they reach large towns or cities, the danger increases. These bombs, when fired by mortars, can travel about three miles normally, and if enhanced, up to five or six miles. So intercepting them has significantly protected civilian lives and greatly hindered the group’s urban attacks,” a source familiar with the situation told The Statesman journal.
However, he also recommended that officials at security checkpoints should tighten inspections as more weapons and ammunition could be entering the country.
“Now that these rounds and shells have been seized, they are being transported separately from weapons. It implied that the launchers and weapons have already arrived inside the country, so the rounds are being smuggled now. It’s necessary to tighten inspections at the checkpoints to prevent further entry. Some weapons may still slip through. Since some shipments are heading toward Yangon and Kayin State, the routes are being monitored carefully. However, some checkpoints are poorly managed, with minimal inspections. Priority is often given to the Thanlwin Bridge, while other routes are checked lightly. For example, when seizures occurred at Bhamo, the weapons were transported across the Thanlwin River using rafts and reached the other side, Paung. These rafts can carry up to a small six-wheeler’s cargo. Because of this, some weapons may escape detection. I’ve also heard that at the Sittoung River and Sittoung Bridge, rafts are used to cross the river, meaning weapons could still reach inside the country,” the source continued.
Currently, some armed groups are running low on ammunition, and Kayah armed groups have also attempted to gain access to the route for transporting weapons, but have failed, forcing them to retreat due to military offensives by the Tatmadaw. –