Bangkok: In a significant enforcement action, the government announced the seizure of illegally imported goods valued at over 12.5 million baht in May alone. The crackdown, spearheaded by the Customs Department, targeted various smuggling activities, particularly those using parcel delivery, warehouses, shops, and border crossings. The operation resulted in the confiscation of items such as cigarettes, e-cigarettes, diesel, and gasoline.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Sasikarn Wattanachan, Deputy Government Spokesperson, highlighted the efforts of the Investigation and Suppression Division of the Customs Office, which, under orders from Prime Minister Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, conducted extensive surveillance and field searches. These efforts led to the successful seizure of illegal goods.
The Customs Office Region 4, along with the Songkhla Customs Checkpoint and Hat Yai Airport Customs Checkpoint, targeted private shipping companies in Songkhla Province. They discovered 22,136 e-cigarettes and related equipment valued at 6,927,000 baht. Additional inspections at the Su-ngai Kolok border checkpoint revealed 1,646 e-cigarettes worth approximately 400,000 baht. The Chumphon Customs Checkpoint also intercepted a truck carrying 552 e-cigarettes valued at 102,400 baht, bringing the total value of seized e-cigarettes to 7,429,400 baht.
In a separate operation, the Investigation and Suppression Division, in collaboration with the Khlong Yai Customs Checkpoint, inspected Khlong Yai District in Trat Province, uncovering 93,200 foreign cigarettes worth 300,000 baht. The Nong Khai Customs Office's search of private vehicles at the Nong Khai border checkpoint yielded 15,200 foreign cigarettes worth 76,000 baht. Meanwhile, the Songkhla Customs Checkpoint and Hat Yai Airport Customs Checkpoint found 972,000 foreign cigarettes valued at 4,630,000 baht in parcels at a private shipping company. An additional search in Hat Yai District uncovered 8,360 foreign cigarettes worth approximately 40,000 baht. The Chumphon Customs Checkpoint found 10,800 e-cigarettes valued at 10,800 baht, amounting to a total cigarette seizure worth 5,056,800 baht.
Customs Office Region 4 also discovered an abandoned warehouse in Khlong Hoi Khong District, Songkhla Province, containing a 1,000-liter tank of diesel fuel and 34 30-liter tanks of gasoline, totaling 1,020 liters, valued at approximately 74,020 baht.
This crackdown is part of ongoing efforts to prevent and suppress illegal products, with the fiscal year 2025 seeing the seizure of 1,066,042 e-cigarettes and accessories worth 111.63 million baht, 39,060,397 cigarettes worth 189.34 million baht, 179,655 liters of fuel worth 5.51 million baht, and 36,059 liters of alcoholic beverages worth 8.62 million baht.
Ms. Sasikarn emphasized the government's commitment to implementing strict measures against illegal products. The Customs Department will continue to enforce these measures to assure the public of the government's dedication to maintaining a stable and sustainable economy.