During inspections conducted on 9 and 10 February, combined on-duty teams from the Ayeyawady Region Illegal Trade Eradication Special Task Force confiscated a total of 0.586 tonnes of illegal teak valued at K42,500 in Ingapu Township, 5.375 tonnes of other illegal timbers worth K317,356 in Pathein Township, and 0.697 tonne of other illegal timbers valued at K348,600 in Pathein Township. Additionally, 6.010 tonnes of other illegal timbers were seized, valued at K420,728, in Nyaungdon Township. These enforcement actions were carried out under the Forest Law.
On 10 February, the joint task force intercepted a Mitsubishi Fuso truck, estimated at K27 million, travelling from Myawady to Yangon at the Ywathagyi Dry Port. The truck was found to be carrying 1,560 bottles of Queen-branded orange juice and 1,496 kilograms of Chaokoh Coconut cream without official documents. These actions were conducted under Customs procedures.
Further confiscations occurred on 12 February at the 16th-mile Kyaukchaw checkpoint, resulting in the seizure of 250 small tortoises valued at K537,500. The tortoises were found without official documents in a Toyota Crown Estate car, approximately valued at K23 million, travelling from Nam Kan to Mandalay. This enforcement effort was also carried out under Customs procedures.
During inspections on 11, 12, and 13 February, the joint teams intercepted a Sunlong bus, approximately valued at K35 million, travelling from Kawthoung to Yangon, carrying four kinds of goods valued at K9.977 million. These goods included 4,680 bags of Violet milk wafers without official documents. Similarly, a Higer bus, valued at approximately K40 million, heading to Yangon from Hpa-an, was found to be carrying four kinds of goods valued at K11.72 million, including 3,600 bags of Yum Yum instant noodles without official documents, at the Nyaungkhashay x-ray station. Additionally, 0.398 tonne of illegal teak and 19.850 tonnes of other illegal timbers, valued at K1,652,576, were seized in Bago and Toungoo districts. These actions were taken under Customs procedures and the Forest Law.
According to the Illegal Trade Eradication Steering Committee, 15 arrests were made over five consecutive days from 9 to 13 February with an estimated value of K157.253 million. — MNA/MKKS
