Pictures courtesy of Customs.

 

Authorities in Mukdahan have arrested a 54-year-old tour bus driver for smuggling counterfeit goods and illegal e-cigarettes worth an estimated ฿30 million. The arrest took place on the evening of 30 December, near the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge II immigration checkpoint.

 

The suspect, identified as Mr Non Chimma, a resident of Nong Bua district, Nakhon Sawan, was apprehended while waiting to pick up a group of Vietnamese tourists. The single-deck blue tour bus, operated by a prominent Bangkok-based tour company, was parked approximately 100 metres from the immigration checkpoint when it was searched.

 

Security officers discovered 40 boxes of e-cigarettes, along with counterfeit branded clothing, false eyelashes, and nail tools. The illicit goods were hidden in a secret compartment beneath the bus, cleverly camouflaged by the vehicle’s cooling system to evade detection.

 

The counterfeit clothing, packed in black plastic bags, was labelled with the sender and recipient’s details, indicating a well-organised smuggling operation.

 

During questioning, Mr Non denied any knowledge of the goods, claiming they belonged to the Vietnamese tourists he was scheduled to transport. Despite his denial, security personnel handed over the seized items to Mukdahan Customs Office for further inspection and inventory.

 

Mr Non has been taken into custody and transferred to the Muang Mukdahan Police Station, where he faces legal charges related to smuggling and intellectual property violations.

 

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the case, which highlights ongoing efforts to crack down on the illegal transport of counterfeit and untaxed goods across Thailand’s borders.

 

-- 2025-01-01

 

 

On 1/1/2025 at 2:59 AM, Georgealbert said:

The counterfeit clothing, packed in black plastic bags, was labelled with the sender and recipient’s details, indicating a well-organised smuggling operation

They're going to be happy.

How did the Vietnamese tourists get home?

 

I mean, we don't want Thailand's image tarnished with bus drivers up to these nefarious acts and abandoning tourists in the middle of nowhere.

I like how they value the goods 30 million probably some fillip Patel watches also valued at 10 million 

False eyelashes cunningly concealed by the vehicle's cooling system. The swine!😋

Ever since this route for Vietnamese tourists to visit Thailand by crossing through Laos by bus opened it, it has been an open secret that it is a heavily used smuggling route.

 

It must be time for a re-negotiation of the distribution of the profits.