According to Chiang Mai News, large numbers of used Japanese vehicles intended for export to Myanmar are accumulating at Thailand’s Mae Sot border area due to the military council’s crackdown on unlicensed vehicles. The regular flow of used Japanese vehicles through the Thai-Myanmar border at Mae Sot has come to a halt due to the military council’s intensified enforcement against unlicensed vehicles. As a result, hundreds of vehicles are now stranded in the border region, unable to proceed into Myanmar.
The export of used Japanese vehicles through Mae Sot has completely stopped since early June. Due to this accumulation of vehicles, the Mae Sot District Administrator, along with Thai customs officials, conducted an inspection on June 7. The primary focus of their investigation was to verify whether proper customs duties had been paid to Thai authorities, as these Japanese used vehicles first enter Thailand before being re-exported to Myanmar. This inspection was deemed necessary due to the unusual buildup of vehicles in the border area.
Military council leader Min Aung Hlaing had issued orders to crack down on unlicensed motorcycles and vehicles, claiming that their operation results in significant tax revenue losses for the state and could potentially create security concerns. This nationwide crackdown on unlicensed vehicles has effectively blocked the import of used cars through border channels, leading to the current situation where hundreds of vehicles are stranded at the border. The military council’s aggressive enforcement measures have severely disrupted the established trade routes for used vehicles, impacting both traders and potential buyers in Myanmar who rely on these more affordable imported used vehicles.
