Thai Customs Crack Down on 63.13M Baht Cigarette Smuggling

[webfact]

On February 8th, 2024, Mr. Panthong Loikunnan, the spokesperson for the Thai Customs Department, publicly revealed a program for the strict prevention and suppression of the smuggling of cigarettes and e-cigarettes to Thailand according to the Thai government’s policy to maintain strict marketing mechanisms and for good health.

Customs officials worked proactively to investigate and crack down on illegal cigarettes and e-cigarette smugglers to Thailand, causing the problem of falling prices of tobacco. Furthermore, the operation could protect the rights of legal cigarette sellers in Thailand.

 

From October 1st, 2023 to January 31st, 2024, the Customs Department was able to arrest 632 cigarette smugglers and confiscated properties in dispute of more than 47.5 million baht, and were able to arrest 62 e-cigarette smugglers and confiscated properties in dispute of more than 15.5 million baht, according to the spokesperson for the Customs Department.

 

By Kittisak Phalaharn

 

Full story: THE PATTAYA NEWS 2024-02-10

 

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[flyingtlger]

If all tobacco use was banned, it would solve many problems....

[jacko45k]

54 minutes ago, flyingtlger said:

If all tobacco use was banned, it would solve many problems....

Not sure about that......

Prohibition was a big failure in the USA. 

[ezzra]

53 minutes ago, flyingtlger said:

If all tobacco use was banned, it would solve many problems....

Legal cigarette selling brings huge amounts of revenues to the government coffres and as you can read the op, they're 

worried about the loss of income rather the health issues of smokes...

[mikebell]

Why does one need cigarettes, fresh Thai air is just as carcinogenic?

[bamnutsak]

The article is a bit threadbare in details...

 

where are these cigarettes produced?

 

where are they shipped from?

 

 

(since Customs is involved, and the photo looks like it's the ThaiPost depot in Laksi, I assume these were "mailed", maybe from Cambodia?)

 

 

Based on the additional shipping fees, how can this business be profitable, if it is just a tax avoidance scheme?

[flyingtlger]

2 hours ago, ezzra said:

Legal cigarette selling brings huge amounts of revenues to the government coffres and as you can read the op, they're 

worried about the loss of income rather the health issues of smokes...

It also brings a heavy burden on the health system, especially the poor and uneducated that end up in the hospital that must rely on the government to pay for their medical bills.

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

On February 8th, 2024, Mr. Panthong Loikunnan, the spokesperson for the Thai Customs Department, publicly revealed a program for the strict prevention and suppression of the smuggling of cigarettes and e-cigarettes to Thailand according to the Thai government’s policy to maintain strict marketing mechanisms and for good health.

Now in the safe hands of customs... 

[digger70]

8 hours ago, flyingtlger said:

If all tobacco use was banned, it would solve many problems....

Nah. drugs are illegal and they can't stop them from coming in Los.

Some people travel to Malaysia to buy  Cheap Cigs and Petrol. They won't be able stop that.

They slowed it down a few years ago for a few months and that's it.

[PETERTHEEATER]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

.......lthe Thai government’s policy to maintain strict marketing mechanisms and for good health.....

Strict marketing mechanisms. A euphemism for The Tobacco Monopoly

[Srikcir]

8 hours ago, bamnutsak said:

where are these cigarettes produced?

 

where are they shipped from?

Great questions.

Thailand legally imported cigarettes in 2019 from (33) nations with The Philippines ranked #1, (S) Korea #2, Indonesia #3

https://wits.worldbank.org/trade/comtrade/en/country/THA/year/2019/tradeflow/Imports/partner/ALL/product/240220

Those would be legal imports.

So where do the illegal imports originates?

"The jump in illegal online trade is blamed on contraband cigarettes smuggled over the border to avoid tax duty before being sold via the internet.

She (Thai Tobacco Trade Association (TTTA) director Thanyasarun Sangthong) said 91% of illegal tobacco trades were performed via Twitter, followed by Facebook (9%). Feb. 10, 2024 "Thai tobacco trade rocked by boom in online sales of illegal cigs,"  https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40024936

Somewhat related - good news.

Essentially a violation of a FTA with the Philippines over Thailand import of Phillip Morris cigarettes manufactured in The Philippines during PM Prayut's regime is close to resolution. WTO had given The Philippines the right to trade retaliation over Thai government illegal actions to interrupt the imports.

"The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a draft agreement to end a dispute with the Philippines over tobacco tax-evasion charges." https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015227