Thai customs make biggest seizure of contraband cigarettes this year

 

Image: Daily News

 

A customs team on patrol in the Gulf of Thailand has made the biggest seizure of contraband cigarettes this year.

 

Four men were arrested off the coasts of Pattani and Naratiwat on an adapted fishing boat. 

 

There were 10,400,000 cigarettes worth 42.5 million baht. 

 

The vessel had been observed acting suspiciously from a distance and was followed. However, the crew got wise to the fact they were being followed and sped up in an effort to escape. 

 

They failed and were taken to Songkhla. 

 

The boat and cargo were seized. 

 

The cigarettes were of the Astro brand and the authorities said they came from Vietnam. 

 

It was not known where they were headed but the arrest took place in Thai waters.

 

Source: Daily News

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-07-25

 

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That is a lot of smoke there, wonder how much did they REALLY catch?...

27 minutes ago, ezzra said:

That is a lot of smoke there, wonder how much did they REALLY catch?...

Bring only one label! Maybe custom officers have Marlboro until 2030!

 

Overtax or ban something, the black market immediately steps in and fills the gap.

Thai tax on buri is small compared to Oz or NZ

1 hour ago, natway09 said:

Thai tax on buri is small compared to Oz or NZ

When I moved to Thailand in 1998 Marlboro Lights were 33 Baht a pack, I think they're about 170 now.

6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

There were 10,400,000 cigarettes worth 42.5 million baht. 

Xmas comes earlier each year.

5 hours ago, Andrew65 said:

When I moved to Thailand in 1998 Marlboro Lights were 33 Baht a pack, I think they're about 170 now.

Come with me, they are 30THB per pack or 280 the box. And all the ASTRO packs shown above will be sold in the same shops in and around Hat Yai. It is a win win situation for smokers, the police and the army. Come to where the flavour is, come to Songkhla province. We also offer 70% methanol free alkohol reasonably priced for your corner shop to create those tasty fruit and honey drinks. Why go to BIG-C?

 

Edited July 25, 20205 yr by fxe1200

Around 81 baht for a pack of 20. Bargain. Keeps the boys in blue in smokes for a long time.

Is it worth smuggling cigarettes here when you can buy a packet in 7/11 for 60 baht. UK prices, 500 baht now that's worth it.

Who ever paid for the shipment is no small fish, most likely will make a donation , leave a few boxes for destruction show and the rest will hit the streets 

44 minutes ago, Scott Tracy said:

Around 81 baht for a pack of 20. Bargain. Keeps the boys in blue in smokes for a long time.

That's two quid.

 

Fags cost less than one baht each to produce. Biggest fiddle in the world. Worse even than fake handbags.

14 hours ago, fxe1200 said:

Come with me, they are 30THB per pack or 280 the box. And all the ASTRO packs shown above will be sold in the same shops in and around Hat Yai. It is a win win situation for smokers, the police and the army. Come to where the flavour is, come to Songkhla province. We also offer 70% methanol free alkohol reasonably priced for your corner shop to create those tasty fruit and honey drinks. Why go to BIG-C?

 

I used to get half price Cambodian smokes in Pattaya. My regular brand, Camel, were 60 Baht a pack, so there isn't quite the incentive. They're around 400 Baht a pack in the UK where I now live, I gave up 5 weeks ago.