Fake Car Inspectors and Robbers Emerge in Myitkyina Amid Crackdown on Unlicensed Vehicles

Pajau Media

June 19, 2025

In Myitkyina, Kachin State, following the military’s crackdown on unlicensed vehicles, there has been a rise in impersonators posing as car inspectors who are actually robbers and armed thieves, according to local residents.

"After the authorities started seizing unlicensed vehicles, some people took advantage of the situation to stop cars and rob them. At first, we thought they were soldiers, but later we realized they were actually robbers," said a local man from Myitkyina.

Previously, robbers and thieves mainly targeted motorcycles and other belongings, but recently, taking advantage of the military’s campaign against unlicensed motorcycles, these impersonators have been stopping and robbing cars under the guise of vehicle inspections.

"They wait at night between Tatkone and the monastery road, stopping cars as if to inspect them. They even carry guns, but not the same type as the military. Their faces look rough and suspicious. Only when we shouted did people from the neighborhood come out, and the robbers ran away. At first, we thought they were police," the local resident continued.

These impersonators reportedly wait at road corners and intersections at night, stopping vehicles for inspection, threatening drivers with guns, and often behaving in a rough and intimidating manner.

Since the breakdown of administrative control in Myitkyina, robberies and thefts have become more frequent. Recently, after 8 p.m., incidents of car robberies and armed threats have increased compared to before, occurring even in neighborhood streets during both day and night.

The crackdown on unlicensed vehicles is not limited to Myitkyina, but is also happening in Mogaung, Namti, and other towns.

Additionally, since the beginning of June, the seizure of unlicensed vehicles in Kachin State has made travel more difficult for drivers and passengers. Local residents who rely on vehicles, including farmers, parents taking children to school, and travelers are facing increasing challenges from all sides.

Reported by: Hpring