Junta associates and junta local district administrators are openly importing unregistered vehicles from China through the Sin Phyu border trading post in Muse Town in northern Shan State.

SHAN has learned that Aung Zaw Moe, the Muse District Administrator, who is based in Muse Town, has been accepting bribes to permit the import of these unregistered vehicles.

Customs officials started letting unregistered vehicles through the Sin Phyu crossing in August 2024.

A Muse resident said to SHAN: “The administrator and the junta are striking deals and openly allowing the import of these unregistered vehicles. In the past, whilst unregistered vehicles were smuggled into Myanmar, they could not be imported through the Sin Phyu gate. Now, in addition to these vehicles, illegal goods are also being brought through that gate, likely including supplies for the junta troops.”

Legally imported vehicles have to be booked in for a customs inspection before they reach the border crossing. Once they have undergone the customs inspection import tax has to be paid and then the vehicles are licensed for use in Myanmar and can be issued with a legal number plate.

At the Sin Phyu crossing illegally imported vehicles linked to junta associates do not have to undergo this process. They do not have to book in for a customs inspection and are waved through the border post and later given fake number plates that are copies of legal number plates already on other vehicles.

The aforementioned Muse resident explained: “These cars often carry goods from China. Having already negotiated bribes with the border authorities, they can pass through the gate without booking or any hindrance. Once the border authorities recognise the vehicles’ connection to junta associates, they are allowed to pass without verification. Trusted drivers are typically hired to transport these vehicles.”

Previously the junta just imported military vehicles which would have been exclusively for the use of the army, but now, for some reason, the junta is importing Hiace passenger vans, according to a young political analyst from Muse Town.

He explained: “It is intriguing to see why the junta is importing passenger vans. Resistance forces usually allow passenger vehicles to pass through areas they control without thorough checks. These vans may be intended to transport supplies for the junta troops. There must be a reason behind this.”

Though the junta is illegally importing vehicles there are also junta departments that are actively looking for illegally imported unregistered vehicles and arresting those found using them.