Myanmar to launch single-stop inspection at borders with China, Thailand

YANGON -- Myanmar will deploy single-stop inspections at border gates with neighboring countries of China and Thailand to prevent illegal trade, official media reported Thursday.

Minister of Commerce Than Myint told the House of Nationalities that discussion are underway with the two neighbor countries for the move.

The system is aimed at preventing illegal trade and boosting the country's revenue collected from border trade, he said, adding that work is underway to set up customs checkpoints for border trade complete with X-ray machines to inspect containers.

He warned that unscrupulous businessmen and corrupt staff in illegal trade activities in border trade would be punished.

The ministry revealed that goods worth more than 52 billion kyats (about $43.77 million) were seized and inedible food worth more than 2.5 billion kyats were destroyed over the last three years until operation of previous mobile inspection teams were shut down in December last year.