Nay Pyi Taw, Aug 18 (IANS): Myanmar will deploy single-stop inspections at border gates with neighbouring countries to prevent illegal trade, officials said on Thursday.

Minister of Commerce Than Myint told the House of Nationalities that discussions wereunderway with the two neighbouring countries -- China and Thailand for the move, Xinhua news agency reported.

The system is aimed at preventing illegal trade and boosting the country's revenue collected from border trade, he said, adding that work was underway to set up customs checkpoints for border trade complete with X-ray machines to inspect containers.

He warned that unscrupulous businessmen and corrupt staff in illegal trade activities in border trade would be punished.

The ministry revealed that goods worth more than 52 billion kyats (about $43 million) were seized and inedible food worth more than 2.5 billion kyats were destroyed over the last three years until operation of previous mobile inspection teams were shut down in December 2015.