KNU, PDFs collect extortion money from illicit-trade trucks to finance arms
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Htet Nadi/Saw(NP News)- Oct 27
A local told The Statesman that the PDF and KNU are collecting extortion money from illegal trucks in Hlaingbwe, Kayin State, to finance for weapons and ammunition.
He said, “From Myawaddy, the route goes along the Silon Road through Hlaingbwe and Shwe Gun, but the Thanlwin Bridge in Hpa-an has been closed. Since the Hpa-an side is blocked, people are now using smuggling routes through the Shwe Gun jetty. From the Udaung jetty, they cross to the other side of the Thanlwin River. When crossing, the PDFs collect tolls and passage fees — that’s how they earn money for weapons and ammunition. On the other side of the Thanlwin River, after crossing from Udaung, there’s Wat Gyi village, where PDF checkpoints are located. If you cross from Shwe Gun village, you’ll reach Mipone and Takaungbo villages. Along the entire route on the far side of the Thanlwin River, PDFs are present. The government has blocked illegal goods from being transported out of Myawaddy. Only those with duty-paid goods can cross via the Thanlwin Bridge. Illicit items without duty clearance are completely blocked. So, they take the smuggling routes instead.”
It is reported that these illegal trucks are passing through KNU and PDF gates after paying a fee of about one million kyats per vehicle.
Vice Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission, Vice-Senior General Soe Win, said at the coordination meeting of the Illegal Trade Eradication Steering Committee on February 27 that illegal trade that does not benefit the state and the people will be combatted.
During the three years and one month period from January 2022 to January 2025, more than 19,000 arrested cases of illegal trade were filed, with an estimated value of over 458 billion kyats. –