Government committee to crack down on illegal imports

Traders continue to import illegal mobile phones, oil and diesel despite the government's efforts to grant import licences, according to the Central Committee for Illegal Trade Control.

Although Myanmar is needs over 435 million gallons of petrol to supply over 400,000 registered vehicles, local traders have only applied to import 391 million gallons in the 2012-2013 fiscal year.

"We estimated that they are illegally importing 44 million gallons of petrol annually. Besides applying to import ordinary oil and diesel they sell them as premium oil and diesel in filling stations. We will take action if the government allows us," said Tin Ye Win, Director of Central Committee for Illegal Trade Control.

The committee insists that it will confiscate the illegal products if the government allows them to inspect shops and stations.

Myanmar has over 400,000 registered vehicles which use approximately 144 million gallons of petrol per year according to the committee's recent findings. The amount stated is calculating by the minimum amount used by vehicles and does not include ships, boats, and industrial machinery or generators.

Furthermore, officials have seized 9,370 mobile handsets valued of over 214 million Kyats in the past seven months. The authorities seized them mostly from private vehicles, motorcycles, taxis and passenger’s vehicles.

source: Eleven Myanmar

http://elevenmyanmar.com/national/3053-government-committee-to-crack-down-on-illegal-imports