Illegal goods seizures will now trigger anti-money laundering charges
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Htet Nadi/Pearl(NP News)-Dec 21
According to the Customs Department of the Ministry of Finance and Revenue, action will also be taken under the Anti-Money Laundering Law if illegal goods are seized.
The Illegal Trade Eradication Steering Committee’s coordination meeting set a resolution that, if illegal goods are seized from Hpa-an, Mawlamyine, Taunggyi, Lashio, Muse, as well as Kayin State, Mon State, and northern Shan State, stipulations under the Anti-Money Laundering Law will also apply in addition to the Export and Import Law and relevant laws.
Furthermore, the transportation of weapons and ammunition mixed with illicit goods poses a threat to national security, and relevant officials have been instructed to effectively prevent and arrest those responsible by establishing information chains between checkpoints and security gates.
When submitting seizure reports from the Region/State Special Forces and the Customs Department, the types of vehicles seized must be classified and the seized goods reported by type. If vessels carrying illegal goods are seized, full information must be included such as whether the vessels are officially registered, the name of the vessel owner, the length, width, engine power, and the amount of cargo they can carry.
The relevant officials have been instructed to take action against illegal trade in accordance with the existing laws, to act effective and quick management, and to work together with the government and the private sector to combat illegal trade.
Last month, the Special Task Forces and the Customs Department in Kayin State, Mon State, Mandalay Region and Shan State inspected and seized a total of 470 vehicles carrying unlicensed, untaxed or prohibited goods. Any restricted items found in the vehicles were confiscated under Section 167 (8) of the Sea Customs Act. Goods that were unlicensed or untaxed, that were imported in violation of the permit or without any permit were subject to appropriate fines under the Sea Customs Act.
In addition, it has been observed that illegal border trade routes play a key role in the systematic laundering of funds obtained from online fraud.
According to research on online fraud and online gambling in countries around the world, illegal funds obtained from scam centers are used to purchase illegal goods in border areas, and these goods are then sold across the border to generate legal income, said Police Lt-Gen Win Zaw Moe, Police Chief of the Myanmar Police Force, during a press conference on the eradication of online fraud held in Yangon on December 14.
He stated that equipment, food, and other supplies needed to operate the scam centers are being smuggled through illicit border trade routes, avoiding taxes. The workforce needed to operate the scam centers is also being trafficked through illegal border routes.
"In summary, illegal border trade creates money laundering channels for scam centers and provides transportation routes for trafficked persons. In order to prevent and break these linkages, it is necessary to integrate anti-money laundering, border security, and anti-trafficking efforts," he urged. –