The Indian Express, in collaboration with International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, based on leaked customs data from Myanmar, global trade statistics and field visits to prominent timber markets. Friends Timber also made payments IPL Pte according to the EIA, linked to the IGE group, which has made donations to the Myanmar military and has connections with Myanmar Economic Holdings (MYE), a sanctioned Myanmar holding company. He has been working in Myanmar since 1996 and says many of the 60-70 Indian teak factories and saw-mills have shut down