Myanmar steps up cracking down on smuggling through containers

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-02/11/content_10800098.htm

www.chinaview.cn 2009-02-11 10:53:17 Print

YANGON, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar authorities are stepping up cracking down on smuggling of banned goods out of the country through containers by conducting strict and thorough check on exporting goods, especially forest products, carried in the containers, the local Weekly Eleven News reported Wednesday, quoting exporters.

Applying complicated process, the one-by-one detailed check on exporting items by having them unloaded from container before it is granted for shipping is being carried out or with X-ray at the Yangon Port to expose hidden banned goods, the report said.

The tight measures was introduced after there was unconfirmed report that smuggling of narcotic drugs through exporting wood carried in one container was foiled recently only minutes after it was given green light, alerting the authorities to take such tightened measure in the aftermath.




According to the anti-drug authorities, Myanmar punished 277 people, including 67 women, for drug offense in December last year.

During the month, the authorities seized 50 kilograms (kg) of opium, 2.32 kg heroin as well as 120,000 stimulant tablets, the figures of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control show.

In the previous month, the country exposed a total of 207 narcotic-drug-related cases punishing 308 people including 58 women.

That month's seizure included seized 71.18 kilograms (kg) of opium, 7.6 kg of heroin, 7 kg of ephedrine, 9 kg of marijuana, 2.5kg of Ice and 5.9 kg of Caffeine as well as 221,406 stimulant tablets.

Due to anti-drug efforts, the number of drug users in Myanmar decreased from 61,455 in 2005 to 54,709 in January 2008.

Myanmar has been implementing a 15-year plan (1999-2014) to totally eradicate poppy in three phases, each running for five years.


Editor: Yang Lina