The Deputy Commander of Southeast Regional Military Command, Colonel Banyar Win, Director of Customs Department Soe Nyunt Aung, and 15 other officials have been arrested under orders from Vice Senior General Soe Win for accepting bribes to release cargo trucks entering from the Thai-Myanmar border without inspection. The arrested officials are accused of failing to follow the policies set by the Anti-Illegal Trade Committee, accepting bribes to allow trucks to pass through, and releasing seized vehicles in exchange for money.
Colonel Banyar Win had been serving as the headmaster of No. 4 Military Advanced Training School before becoming the Deputy Commander of Southeast Regional Military Command in January 2025. The previous Deputy Commander, Brigadier General Zaw Min Aung, was removed from his position in December 2024 following a dispute with Karen State Chief Minister Saw Myint Oo. All those arrested were immediately dismissed from their positions and taken into custody by the military security team from Naypyidaw, who conducted the arrests directly under orders from the top leadership.
During the Anti-Illegal Trade Steering Committee meeting held in Naypyidaw on October 9, 2024, Vice Senior General Soe Win ordered effective action against illegal trade activities that were allegedly supporting armed organizations. He instructed officials to conduct thorough inspections along trade routes, warehouses, storage facilities, and markets. The investigation is currently ongoing, and additional arrests may follow as the probe continues to uncover more details about the corruption network within the military and civilian administration.
