MAE HONG SON — Car exports from Thailand to Myanmar through the Ban Huai Phueng border crossing in Mae Hong Son Province have come to a complete halt, with hundreds of export vehicles now stranded in the border towns of Ban Namna and Ban Hua Muang.
According to customs sources in Mae Hong Son on June 24, cross-border trade has been severely disrupted after Myanmar’s central government ordered the seizure of all unregistered vehicles that haven’t paid state taxes.
This directive has effectively ended the export of used cars – primarily Japanese vehicles transiting through Thailand to Myanmar – over the past two weeks.
Mae Hong Son Governor Ekkawit Meepien, accompanied by relevant agencies, recently inspected the used car export operations from Japan that pass through Thailand to Myanmar, emphasizing the need for all agencies to perform their duties correctly.
Officials following the inspection team revealed that exported vehicles often carry automotive parts and tires mixed with other transit goods, raising questions about proper tax compliance, as the exported cars are supposed to be transit goods without accompanying spare parts.
Military Uses Seized Vehicles for State Forces
General Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar’s military government leader, stated that the state has lost significant revenue from vehicle taxation, with many untaxed vehicles falling into the hands of anti-government groups. Effective June 1, 2025, he ordered authorities to seize all vehicles without proper licenses or registration.
The seized cars and motorcycles are being distributed to military units and police forces across various regions for official use by Myanmar’s armed forces and police departments.
This crackdown has created widespread anxiety among civilians in many areas, who now fear driving unregistered vehicles in major cities or areas under Myanmar military control. The policy has effectively paralyzed normal transportation for many residents who cannot afford proper vehicle registration under the current regime.
The situation highlights the broader economic and social disruption caused by Myanmar’s military government policies, affecting not only cross-border trade but also the daily lives of ordinary citizens caught between administrative requirements and economic reality.
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