Petitions filed to reduce fines on illicit goods on over 400 seized trucks
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Htet Nadi/ Pearl (NP News)
A source close to the trucks told The Statesman that petitions were filed to reduce fines for illicit goods on more than 400 trucks confiscated in four regions and states.
Last month, 470 vehicles seized in Kayin State, Mon State, Shan State and Mandalay Region were found to be carrying restricted or prohibited goods. Appropriate fines were imposed on unlicensed goods, goods for which duty had not been paid, and goods imported in violation of permits or without permits at all. Traders have filed petitions to reduce the fines in order to reclaim them.
The Statesman has not yet been able to confirm the news, but the reports emerging seem to be consistent with the source's statement.
“I heard that when we were trying to redeem the 400+ seized vehicles, they were petitioning because they could not redeem them. Some are also negotiating for a percentage reduction. The directive issued by the Ministry of Finance and Revenue states that fines will be imposed at a rate of so many times the vehicle's value. I heard that they are petitioning to have the rate reduced so that they can redeem them,” said a person close to the trucks.
He also suggested that fines for certain products should be reduced due to petitions.
“Some things should be eased. At City Mart, for example, some Thai products are no longer available. We can manage without them, but as a result, the prices of other goods have gone up. If Thai laundry detergent isn’t available, the price of local Myanmar detergents has also increased because electricity bills are high. The price of household goods has risen somewhat. Even animal feed has become scarce. Cracking down on smuggling is a good thing in principle, but in some cases there should be a bit of relaxations. In some cases, it has affected consumers,” he added.
The tax on non-customs goods is set at 0.5 times for agricultural tractors/E Three Wheel Motorcycles and some medicines, 0.75 times for office stationery, 1 time for industrial raw materials and industrial equipment, 2 times for fertilizers, fuel, tires and construction equipment, communication equipment, commercial vehicles and tractor-trailers, 3 times for electronic goods, machinery and 4 times for passenger vehicles.
It is also reported that restricted and prohibited products, such as vapes, cigarettes, beer, and poker packs will be confiscated. –