More than 30 traders are still being hunted by authorities in the area of Muse, on the Burma-China border, in connection with corruption and illegal trading.

Residents in Muse said on Friday they had seen a list with the names of about 50 accused traders who run private businesses in the area. Nineteen of them were sentenced in Lashio prison, northern Shan State, this week to terms of imprisonment ranging from seven to 42 years. Thirty four of the people on the wanted list were still at large and suspected of seeking refuge in China.

Among well-known local businessmen on the list are Win Thein Kyaw, who has an transportation company, Tin Pe, of Kyaw Kyaw Thein Trading, Thet Khaing, of Saytamann transportaion, Aung Min, of Tharaphy Commpany, and Kyi Aung, of God’s Son Company.

The arrests and investigations in the Muse area follow crackdowns on Customs Department officials and businesspeople in other parts of the country. In several cases in August, more than 80 Customs Department officials and 200 traders were sentenced to prison terms of up to 21 years.

In late July about two dozen businesspeople were arrested in Myawaddy, the Burmese border town opposite Thailand’s Mae Sot and charged with tax evasion and possessing illegal goods. They included the president of the Myawaddy Chamber of Commerce.