Huge cache of smuggled cigarettes and liquors seized in Hat Yai

 

 

A combined force of customs officials, police and soldiers seized more than 10 million baht worth of smuggled alcoholic drinks, and cigarettes in raids at four places in Hat Yai yesterday.

 

The raid followed growing concern by authorities that more cigarettes and alcoholic drinks will be smuggled into the country from across the border to exploit the new excise tax law which sees higher prices of the two goods.

 

The combined force swooped on four places in Hat Yai and Bang Klam districts of Songkhla where authorities received information that huge stocks of smuggled goods were stored there.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/huge-cache-smuggled-cigarettes/

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2017-09-24

Maybe this was the plan all along?

Raise prices so we can catch more smugglers and can now drink and smoke more for free.

Expect much more of the same in the days to come now that the tax

has been increased markedly and smuggling now become more lucrative...

Stupid people, that should be caught. The tax hike isn´t that much so it´s suddenly worth bringing more in the illegal way.

The price to pay when caught is far too high.

Where was the source of the cigs and booze?

 

Surely not Malaysia? They have a religious tax making beer way more expensive than in Thailand.

 

Maybe they were being supplied by the duty free shop at for example Sadao, and if that is the case, then the officials working at that border point should be investigated for unusual wealth......

 

I wonder what will happen to this nice little hoard of goodies...

stored away somewhere or flogged off on the quiet into the system?

nice little earner there for some people in the right department.

I bet a competitor dropped the dime.

That's some serious coin.