Authorities of Burma’s new government seized 18 Chinese motorcycles exported from the China-Burma border trading point under control of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), in Kachin State.
On April 29, more than18 motorcycles were seized and the drivers of the truck carrying them were arrested on their way back to Myitkyina, the Capital of Kachin State, from the Laiza headquarters of the KIO. The authorities detained them in the Waingmaw Township police station, a resident said.
The drivers carrying motorcycles need to pay 1,000 kyat (US$1.2) tax to the KIO in Laiza and then pay over 2,500 kyat (US$3) at all check points of the Burmese government on the way to Myitkyina, according to one of the driver.
“Before the arrests at least 100 to 200 motorcycles passed every day. Now, there are very few. Yesterday only 10 motorcycles passed,” a KIO staff member in Laiza said.
Chinese made motorcycles without licenses are mainly imported from the two border trading points at Laiza and one controlled by the Border Guard Force (BGF), formerly the New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K).
Motorcycles from Kambaiti are priced lower. However, motorcycle traders prefer to buy the vehicles from Laiza because they can be driven away, unlike those from Kambaiti, which have to be transported by truck.
The prices vary between 340,000 (US$404) to 460,000 kyat (US$546), depending on the model and the motorcycle carriers spend 1,500-3,000 kyat (US$1.7-3.6) for a ferry to Laiza.
