IN the country’s economic sector, the trade sector is an important part, and it can be said that it is a major sector that provides the country’s tax rev­enue. While the State is making policies for developing the trade sector, it must take action to pre­vent economic fraud. On the oth­er hand, greedy businesspeople, regardless of the interests of the State and the people, find ways to trade through illegal imports and exports. Among the definitions of various interpretations regarding unlawful trade, “the production of illicit goods as defined by interna­tional law, purchasing, shipping, migration, transferring, accept­ing, keeping in hand or distribu­tion and any conduct intended to encourage such activities is de­fined as illegal trade by the World Trade Organization.”

Illegal trade hinders national economic development and peo­ple’s socioeconomic development activities and results in the loss of tax revenues that should be available to the State. In addition, the loss of market for the goods produced by the domestic micro, small and medium enterprises due to the lack of fair competition in the market is a major threat to the long-term survival of domestic manufacturing enterprises. The increase in illegal trade has led to high commodity prices, financial instability, and national security, as well as affecting law and order. Illegal trade must be effective­ly prevented as a national duty. Regarding unlawful trade, in the World Illegal Trade Index released in 2018, Myanmar ranked 82^nd out of 84 countries with only 23 points. The Global Illegal Trade Status Index is known to be measured by four indicators such as govern­ment policy, supply and demand, transparent trade, and customs procedures. Regarding the in­crease in the global illegal trade situation due to Myanmar’s illegal trade, the “Steering Committee on Countering Illegal Trade” was re-organized in December 2021, aiming to coordinate with the relevant departments in order to promote inter-departmental cooperation at the national level and to receive the full tax through the reduction of illegal trade. The Steering Committee on Counter­ing Illegal Trade also implement­ed its tasks at a rapid pace without delay for the benefit of the country and the people. The purpose and duties of the Steering Committee on Countering Illegal Trade are very good. To ensure no loss of the State’s tax revenue, no entry of food products that are not suit­able for consumption, low-quality consumer goods, illegal drugs and imports and exports of prohibited goods into the country, the com­mittee has carried out effective preventions.

Since illegal trade has been rooted and flourishing for dec­ades, effective anti-illegal trade operations can only be prevented by the participation of the entire public. At present, some people with the spirit of responsible citi­zenship are reporting illegal trade activities. Information about the sender is also kept confidential. According to reports, 20 per cent of the money obtained from the collection of fines on the illegal goods intercepted or seized as public funds and sold at auction (for example – K20 million if it is K100 million) is being secretly awarded to whistleblowers in ac­cordance with the procedure of the Union Government’s Notice 70/2020. In addition, the existing Union Tax Law exempts the re­ward money obtained from the seizure of illegal goods and the reward money for whistleblowers from paying income tax. There were 3,642 cases that reached the reward level and were awarded, including 333 cases that were arrested due to reports from responsible citizens. It is known that K1,430.260 million has been awarded to whistleblowers. It is also learned that the remaining cases are being under-processed to reward as soon as possible. I believe that if there is more partic­ipation from the public in report­ing, we can prevent and control illegal trade with more effective measures. Although some peo­ple want to report, they do not know the right place and person to report. Some people keep si­lent because they are afraid of being harmed by unscrupulous and greedy businessmen.

In order to combat Illegal trade, the Steering Committee publicized contact numbers and email addresses in national news­papers, MRTV and FM Radio to report and complain about illegal trade.

Furthermore, any report can also be made by phone, letters, email, or in person with confi­dence to the special groups com­batting illegal trade in respective regions and states.

The word ‘whistleblower’ can be considered as a person who reports complete and accurate in­formation of apprehending prohib­ited or duty-evading or attempting to evade duty or duty-free goods. It is known that the information about the whistleblower is kept confidential so that the whistle­blowers do not have to worry, and the relevant departments receiv­ing the information also provide assurances for the whistleblower. If we can effectively prevent illegal trade due to whistle-blowing com­plaints, we will be able to prevent the above-mentioned damage to the public interest and loss of tax revenue that the State should re­ceive.

Therefore, as the Steering Committee on Eradicating Ille­gal Trade is laying down and im­plementing effective strategies to reduce and eliminate illegal trade, we urge the citizens to join together as a national duty to pre­vent illegal trade that harms the country’s economic sector and the socioeconomic development of the people and proudly receive the reward awarded by the State.