Myanmar Junta Tightens Restrictions on Rice Shipments Along Vital Taungoo-Leiktho Route
Myanmar junta security forces have intensified inspections on large rice shipments along the Leiktho-Taungoo Road in Thandaunggyi Township, Bago Region.
The crackdown follows social media reports exposing systemic extortion, which detailed the exact bribes junta checkpoints were demanding from truck drivers transporting rice along the route.
“After information surfaced on social media about how much money each checkpoint was demanding from trucks carrying rice from Taungoo to Leiktho and Yardo townships, the junta tightened its inspections. Now, anyone wanting to transport a large number of rice bags even has to apply for special permission,” a Leiktho resident said.
To transport rice, merchants must now obtain an official endorsement letter from the commander of the military’s Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 603, based in Leiktho. Shipments lacking this documentation face immediate confiscation.
“Those of us from Thandaunggyi Township still don’t need a permission letter. But if we carry more than one bag of rice, we have to pay money at the checkpoints. Inspections have become really strict recently, so we don’t dare transport large quantities,” explained a driver who runs goods between Taungoo and Thandaunggyi.
This authorization requirement extends beyond rice to other essential commodities, including medicines, cooking oil, and fuel. Authorities are heavily restricting the movement of these goods, subjecting undocumented shipments to severe scrutiny and interrogation.
The economic impact on the region has been severe. Locals report that the price of a bag of rice—previously around 60,000 Myanmar Kyat (MMK)—has nearly doubled due to transport restrictions and bribery costs.
The Taungoo-Thandaung-Leiktho-Yardo route is a crucial economic corridor connecting Myanmar’s lowland plains with its mountainous regions, playing a vital role in regional trade and local livelihoods.
However, since the 2021 military coup, escalating conflicts have led to frequent road closures. Compounded by the junta’s arbitrary trade restrictions, local communities suffer from travel barriers, skyrocketing commodity prices, and severe food shortages.
