Illegal trade is booming on the southern Shan State motorcade trade route through Mae Hong Son, a northern province in Thailand. Since the beginning of the New Year, hundreds of new and used cars have been transported from Mae Hong Son, to Taunggyi, Burma (Myanmar).
According to one palm oil merchant, "Malaysian palm oil and Japanese cars entering from Thailand" are the main products being sold.
Japanese cars enter via a checkpoint in Mae Hong Son, where a fee of 20,000 baht (670 dollars) per car is taxed to the seller of the car. Khun Nu, the son of Col Maha Ja, the owner of Homong-based SSS Company, taxes 50,000 baht (1670 dollars) to the buyer of the car. As many as eight 18-wheelers transport palm oil per week, and up to ten Japanese cars can be transported to Mae Hong Son at one time.
New Japanese cars are also being transported to Taunggyi.
The Japanese cars are transported from Ho mong to the Salween River crossing Ta Hsop Teng. It is much cheaper and easier for people to transport cars illegally as opposed to the tedious legal methods.
Recently a trade delegation led by Mae Hong Son governor went to Naypyataw to discuss the official reopening of the Mae Hon Son-Ho mong border, but returned without meeting any senior official.
