Venture goes awry as smugglers’ loot falls into the mighty Mekong

By The Nation

 

 

A local syndicate’s plan to smuggle vehicles across the Mekong River in Nakhon Phanom failed badly when the cargo slipped into the water on Monday (August 10).

 

The catastrophe was reported to the Mekong Riverine Unit of the Royal Navy by the headman of Don Nang Hong village.

 

The officers arrived to see four Toyota pick-up trucks bobbing in the water, and later fished them out to use as evidence.

 

It was revealed that these cars had been pawned off by unlucky gamblers and were to be sold in a neighbouring country, but the plan failed miserably due to negligence.

 

Initial investigation shows that 10 vehicles have already made it across the river and that a local official was in control of the operation.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30392741

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-08-10

 

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24 minutes ago, webfact said:

pawned off by unlucky gamblers

So if that is the case then where are the laws being broken?

16 minutes ago, holy cow cm said:

So if that is the case then where are the laws being broken?

Maybe it is not legal to smuggle vehicles out of Thailand to a neighbouring country – just a guess ?

3 minutes ago, JoePai said:

Maybe it is not legal to smuggle vehicles out of Thailand to a neighbouring country – just a guess ?

 

You can drive them across the border so would not figure is a huge deal.

56 minutes ago, webfact said:

Initial investigation shows that 10 vehicles have already made it across the river and that a local official was in control of the operation.

Just can't keep there noses clean, can they!

20 hours ago, webfact said:

Initial investigation shows that 10 vehicles have already made it across the river and that a local official was in control of the operation.

Yep... in that I can believe !

19 hours ago, holy cow cm said:

You can drive them across the border so would not figure is a huge deal.

And you're supposed to drive them back again after your visit, otherwise there is a 40% import duty.

 

There is also a ban on importing right-hand drive vehicles.

19 hours ago, JoePai said:

Maybe it is not legal to smuggle vehicles out of Thailand to a neighbouring country – just a guess ?

 

Absolutely correct. To take a vehicle out of Thailand legally, it must have an "official" vehicle passport, international insurance cover and other associated documentation with the blue book. When vehicles are pawned as collateral by gamblers, who then cannot repay the loan, they are smuggled into Laos (in the above case) where they get a new identity and Laos registration after being sold - easy money! This racket has been going on for many years among the "illegal" gambling syndicates.

Too funny 

Well spotted by that pointing officer now find the brown one????

On 8/11/2020 at 5:40 AM, sammieuk1 said:

Well spotted by that pointing officer now find the brown one????

He's pointing out the illegally parked truck.

Ooops.  Vehicle pawned, smuggled across a border, insurance claimed, rinse and repeat.