Thai Customs officers have seized RM870,000 in Malaysian currency concealed in a vehicle entering Thailand through the Sadao border checkpoint, according to a Thai security spokesman.
An unnamed Malaysian man was arrested after the discovery at the busy crossing between Thailand's Songkhla province and Malaysia. The cash was estimated by authorities to be worth about 7.1 million baht.
Cash found in Thai-registered vehicle
The spokesman said the operation followed intelligence gathering and investigations.
Officers from the Customs Control Division, Regional Customs Office 4 and Sadao Customs inspected a Thai-registered vehicle and found the Malaysian currency hidden inside, he said.
The money was seized under Section 166 of the Thai Customs Act 2017. The owner or person in possession of the funds could face charges under Section 242, read together with Section 252 of the same law, the spokesman added.
The case has now been passed to Sadao Customs for further legal action.
Authorities investigate the source and purpose
Thai authorities are continuing their inquiry, including into why the money was being brought into Thailand, the spokesman said.
No further details were given about the arrested man, the vehicle or the precise method used to conceal the cash.
Sadao is one of the principal road crossings for travellers and trade moving between southern Thailand and northern Malaysia. The checkpoint is used by Malaysians, Thais and foreign residents travelling across the border, as well as by visitors heading to Hat Yai and other destinations in the south.
Travellers carrying substantial sums should ensure they understand the relevant Thai declaration and customs requirements before setting off, and be ready to explain the lawful source and intended use of funds if questioned. Concealing cash, rather than carrying it openly with any necessary supporting paperwork, may lead to seizure and a criminal investigation.
The case concerns Malaysian ringgit rather than Thai baht, but Customs enforcement can apply to currencies brought across the border.
Picture courtesy of Thai Customs
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25 September 2026
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