Swede busted for selling chewing tobacco without work permit

[PoorSucker]

Just now, Briggsy said:

Were you then able to give up the chewing tobacco?

 

I gave up smoking 12 years ago by getting very drunk and smoking over a packet in a night. (not recommended method)

Yes a month later, I was nicotine free.

[EcigAmateur]

2 hours ago, AlexRich said:

Why would any foreigner get involved in an undercover sting operation to set-up a guy over a relatively minor offence? There are reportedly foreigners engaging in boiler room and property fraud in Thailand who are noted "pillars of the community" ... I wonder why they are never targeted?

 

Farang wannabee cops are snitches for Mibs. This is why they do not deserve respect.

 

 

 

 

[natway09]

Missing from this story is how he got the product into the country in the first place?

Customs regulations breached as well ?

[jenny2017]

4 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

Were you then able to give up the chewing tobacco?

 

I gave up smoking 12 years ago by getting very drunk and smoking over a packet in a night. (not recommended method)

That might help me to quit smoking. I was never so close, really hate every cigarette, but can't just stop. 

 

    I know a guy who smokes two packs a night and he doesn't stop. 

[craigt3365]

2 minutes ago, EcigAmateur said:

 

Farang wannabee cops are snitches for Mibs. This is why they do not deserve respect.

They are police volunteers.  With a job to do.  Help enforce the law.  Like everything else, some are good, some not so good.  I know a few who are absolutely outstanding.

[EcigAmateur]

Just now, craigt3365 said:

They are police volunteers.  With a job to do.  Help enforce the law.  Like everything else, some are good, some not so good.  I know a few who are absolutely outstanding.

 

I treat all uniforms the same way, this is all what they deserve. If they had face they would do a respectable job. No pity.

 

 

[craigt3365]

1 minute ago, EcigAmateur said:

 

I treat all uniforms the same way, this is all what they deserve. If they had face they would do a respectable job. No pity.

 

 

Horrible comment.  But to be expected from you.

[MrMuggs]

Really!! This must be the biggest bust of the year:-)

Surprised that there is not an additional 15 or 20 officers in the photo, apparently they must all be busy work on other such high level crimes.

[smx1313]

45 minutes ago, impulse said:

I struggle to see where travel blogging, online poker or shipping Thai made EBay goods overseas from Thailand would even ping the radar. 

I recall reading about your question on news story on Thaivisa several years ago.

Thai police would go to internet cafes (remember those?), round up all the foreigners and check what they were doing on the computer.

They were specifically looking for ebayers selling Thai goods overseas, travel writers, remote workers, poker players, programers, any kind of income earning activity done online.

It was all considered work.

I don’t recall ever reading about how it all resolved, but expats were indeed being arrested, and it seemed to me mostly in Chang Mai. 

 

Around that same time the police issued public statements directing postal workers to look out for and report suspicious mailing activity by foreigners.  Things like showing up a few times a week for months with loads of packages to mail out.

That last one was on my radar.

I had a friend who bought in Pratunam and sold on eBay. I would help him carry large bags of packages to the PO in Kao San.

I eventually quit helping my friend with that. Too risky.

[watcharacters]

2 hours ago, spermwhale said:

Even stranger... why would a foreigner target this guy and go to the police to set up a sting with them? 

 

 

 

I could only guess some people get some kind of a sick rush from such activities..

 

Kind of like the kid in elementary school that likes to tell on others.

[smx1313]

Here in NYC/USA tobacco is very heavily taxed and controlled. 

So of course there is a huge black market dedicated to smuggling cigarettes from states were they are much cheaper.

It's not taken lightly by the authorities, one reason smuggling/selling tax free smokes is very popular with the local Mafia.

I imagine its similar in LOS.

Hell, they even bust stores selling bootleg cigarettes made in china! 

 

Edited November 17, 2017 by smx1313

[chilli42]

How odd.  With so many things going on the RTP spend time on this minor infaction.  Either there is more to the story than meets the eye or they really have no sense of priorities.

[bkkcanuck8]

9 minutes ago, smx1313 said:

I recall reading about your question on news story on Thaivisa several years ago.

Thai police would go to internet cafes (remember those?), round up all the foreigners and check what they were doing on the computer.

They were specifically looking for ebayers selling Thai goods overseas, travel writers, remote workers, poker players, programers, any kind of income earning activity done online.

It was all considered work.

I don’t recall ever reading about how it all resolved, but expats were indeed being arrested, and it seemed to me mostly in Chang Mai. 

 

Around that same time the police issued public statements directing postal workers to look out for and report suspicious mailing activity by foreigners.  Things like showing up a few times a week for months with loads of packages to mail out.

That last one was on my radar.

I had a friend who bought in Pratunam and sold on eBay. I would help him carry large bags of packages to the PO in Kao San.

I eventually quit helping my friend with that. Too risky.

The raided the co-working space based on the upset girlfriend who wanted revenge on some issue with her boyfriend who ran the place.  They brought them all down to the station, checked out and everyone who had a valid visa (tourist, retiree) was let go after checking the passports.  They were not "specifically looking for ebayers selling Thai goods overseas".

[watcharacters]

23 minutes ago, PoorSucker said:

Yes a month later, I was nicotine free.

 

 

At 3 packs a day i wonder how many I would have had to smoke to give up  smoking a dozen + years ago?

 

I figure for most it's just a matter of will power.

[Jools]

Gotta "toe the mark" as rapists, political criminals and thieves and perverts of all descriptions run free.

[Kieran00001]

3 hours ago, dictater said:

How in this instance is he denying a Thai person work/income or profit? I know that is not the regulations on which the work permit is given but it is the basis on which the labor law was created. 

 

In the normal way, if you hadn't noticed just about every market in Thailand has at least one vendor of chewing tobacco.

[holy cow cm]

Because tobacco is one the world's coveted items to not touch. Like the FTA in USA

[ResandePohm]

Just now, Kieran00001 said:

 

In the normal way, if you hadn't noticed just about every market in Thailand has at least one vendor of chewing tobacco.

If it was a Swede selling then i doubt it was chewing tobacco which is an American habit. It is more likely to be what the Swedes call "Snus" which is a type of snuff placed under the lip. It comes loose or in small pouches. Revolting stuff if you swallow it by accident.

[Kieran00001]

Just now, ResandePohm said:

If it was a Swede selling then i doubt it was chewing tobacco which is an American habit. It is more likely to be what the Swedes call "Snus" which is a type of snuff placed under the lip. It comes loose or in small pouches. Revolting stuff if you swallow it by accident.

 

They are essentially the same thing, just packaged differently, as can be the Thai stuff, there are different ways it is prepared, regardless selling a tobacco product of any sort takes trade always from Thai tobacco sellers.

[mommysboy]

2 hours ago, darksidedog said:

I suspect the song and dance is because it is Tobacco (and probably untaxed tobacco at that),and we all know how the Thai Tobacco Monopoly tries to stamp out anyone infringing on their profits.

As far as I can tell, the main offence would be importation/evasion of tax.  He's been charged with working illegally.  That's a bit of a head scratcher.  Maybe, he'll be charged with the main offence later.  There is a similarity with the Swiss guy who got hit with draconian treatment for importing e-cigarettes, and it was made to appear that using an ecig is unlawful.  In these instances, people get hit hard, and the incident is publicised in order to get the message across- in this instance that working on a retirement visa is unlawful.

 

 

[FitnessHealthTravel]

Meanwhile thousands die on the roads...

[bkkcanuck8]

4 minutes ago, mommysboy said:

As far as I can tell, the main offence would be importation/evasion of tax.  He's been charged with working illegally.  That's a bit of a head scratcher.  Maybe, he'll be charged with the main offence later.  There is a similarity with the Swiss guy who got hit with draconian treatment for importing e-cigarettes, and it was made to appear that using an ecig is unlawful.  In these instances, people get hit hard, and the incident is publicised in order to get the message across- in this instance that working on a retirement visa is unlawful.

 

 

Not a head scratcher - likely the export side does not have the laws in place .... they typically focus on illegal import.... but I have no doubt that he is currently being deported to a country where he violated controlled substance import laws.  There typically can be some really hefty penalties (10 years potentially).

Edited November 17, 2017 by bkkcanuck8

[mommysboy]

4 minutes ago, bkkcanuck8 said:

Not a head scratcher - likely the export side does not have the laws in place .... they typically focus on illegal import.... but I have no doubt that he is currently being deported to a country where he violated controlled substance import laws.  There typically can be some really hefty penalties (10 years potentially).

Can you explain again?  I'm puzzled.

[observer90210]

As cited in the topic of the article, if Thai law enforcement is using farang informants, I would be suspicious in public, if an unknown friendly farang starts discussing national politics and tries to chat up the unwary to get their opinions.

[digger70]

3 hours ago, spermwhale said:

Even stranger... why would a foreigner target this guy and go to the police to set up a sting with them? 

Pocket money? or lack of.

[bkkcanuck8]

10 minutes ago, mommysboy said:

Can you explain again?  I'm puzzled.

In many countries tobacco / cigarettes are non-mailable - so sending them through the post. (potential offence #1).

Evasion of import taxes #2

Smuggling a controlled substance #3

Selling to a minor (legally required to check age of buyer) #4 

I am sure there are probably a few more....

 

Then in countries like the US you have potentially consecutive (vs concurrent) sentencing....  each act of shipping could conceivably be considered individually.

 

Then you potentially have multiple countries whose laws were violated.

 

 

I thought out 10 years sort of randomly, but it is not that much of a stretch.  

 

 

 

Edited November 17, 2017 by bkkcanuck8

[seancbk]

44 minutes ago, smx1313 said:

I recall reading about your question on news story on Thaivisa several years ago.

Thai police would go to internet cafes (remember those?), round up all the foreigners and check what they were doing on the computer.

They were specifically looking for ebayers selling Thai goods overseas, travel writers, remote workers, poker players, programers, any kind of income earning activity done online.

It was all considered work.

I don’t recall ever reading about how it all resolved, but expats were indeed being arrested, and it seemed to me mostly in Chang Mai. 

No-one was charged.   The police had been told they were working for companies in Thailand.  When it was shown they were working online and not being paid by a Thai company they were all released. 

All details can be found here - http://blog.copass.org/coworkers-detained-thailand/   

and more details here  -  http://www.johnnyfd.com/2014/09/live-updates-immigration-crackdown-in.html

 

Since that incident there have been no further issues (that I've heard of) and the number of Co-Working spaces operating in Thailand has grown considerably.    Most of the customers in Co-working spaces are foreigners working online (building apps, websites, etc).

 

 

[Bazza444]

3 hours ago, sanemax said:

Strange story .

There is probably a bit more to this story than has been reported .

Someone thought that he was selling drugs ?

Someone with a grievance against him ?

It does seem quite a travial matter and its surprising the the Police took any action

This stinks of someone in the Thai authorities being pissed off, losing out on his or her cut, so action is taken ! No surprises here ! Next !

[yasorab]

The Internet does not constitute working in Thailand so no work permit required. Yet anotherated misinterpretation by the Thai dedicatory 

[mommysboy]

16 minutes ago, bkkcanuck8 said:

In many countries tobacco / cigarettes are non-mailable - so sending them through the post. (potential offence #1).

Evasion of import taxes #2

Smuggling a controlled substance #3

Selling to a minor (legally required to check age of buyer) #4 

I am sure there are probably a few more....

 

Then in countries like the US you have potentially consecutive (vs concurrent) sentencing....  each act of shipping could conceivably be considered individually.

 

Then you potentially have multiple countries whose laws were violated.

 

 

I thought out 10 years sort of randomly, but it is not that much of a stretch.  

 

 

 

I can see, in theory, that smuggling could be 2 offences, one in the country of origin, and one in the importing country.  But I think that in practice, the offence is usually tried where the offender is caught.  Then, there is the scale of the operation, which is undoubtedly way too small for any international action.

 

But the head scrather I meant is in the headline:

Swede busted for selling chewing tobacco without work permit.

 

I think it would be illegal to sell chewing tobacco full stop without some form of license.  And the real offence is probably importation/smuggling.  And, despite their being ample evidence, he is charged with working illegally on a retirement visa, which, to choose a wrong metaphor, is rather small beer.

 

 

 

Edited November 17, 2017 by mommysboy