Myanmar Junta Covertly Transports Bomb-Making Materials in Civilian Vehicles

The Myanmar military junta is secretly using civilian cargo trucks to transport raw materials and bomb casings between its weapons manufacturing plants, according to active and retired defense industry workers.

Directorate of Defence Industry 6 (DDI 6) in Bago Region’s Padaung Township operates around the clock to produce aerial bomb casings.

About twice a month, convoys of roughly seven civilian trucks transport the casings north to DDI 21 in Seikphyu Township of Magway Region for final assembly.

To supply the manufacturing process, the regime reportedly imports large-diameter metal pipes from Russia, China, and North Korea through Yangon Port under the guise of urban construction materials.

The pipes are transported upstream along the Ayeyarwady River to the Pyingyi dock in Htonebo town before being trucked to DDI 6 to be melted down and cast into bomb shells.

Rather than payments in cash, the junta reportedly compensates civilian truck owners with fuel.

To meet heightened production demands, the military has transferred workers from suspended state-owned heavy-industry plants to assist the manufacturing works.

Convoys carrying both raw materials and finished casings—which saw a marked surge in traffic this October—are routinely led by junta officers in civilian attire.

Regional operations commands in Padaung, Pyay, and Aunglan provide ground security along their respective transit sectors.

When traversing high-risk areas, such as the Salin–Seikphyu Road where People’s Defence Force (PDF) activity is prominent, the military vehicles and civilian trucks are heavily escorted by military vehicles and air support from two attack helicopters stationed at DDI 21.

Security protocols for weapons transport were significantly tightened following a 2023 ambush by resistance forces on a junta convoy carrying rocket and grenade components from DDI 12 in Thayet Township. That attack resulted in multiple military casualties, the destruction of several vehicles, and severe disciplinary actions against senior factory leadership.