BANKOK: Thai customs claims that about Ks 140 million (US$140,000) worth of contraband, including garment-factory materials and bracelets assumed to be made from jade, were caught at airports, ports and borders, according to the Customs Department.
At Yangon International Airport, approximately Ks 1.9 million worth of commodities were confiscated. In one case, Ks 1.5 million worth of Skywalker X-8 (camera drones) were taken from a foreigner. At the ports, Ks 7.65 million worth of commodities were seized.
Elsewhere, products worth around Ks 130.71 million were confiscated, including Ks 1.25 million worth of bracelets assumed to be made from jade on the Mandalay-Muse road.
Customs officers seized most contraband at border regions, despite the open border trade zones created by the Ministry of Commerce. These zones are: Muse, Lweje, Chinshwehaw and Kanpitetee on the Chinese border; Myawady, Techileik, Kawthaung, Myeik, Kungtung, Mawtaung and Nabulal/Hteekhee on the Thai border; Sittwe and Maungdaw for Bangladesh and Tamu and Reed on the Indian border.
