Picture courtesy of DSI.

 

Authorities have seized a massive shipment of illegal e-cigarettes smuggled into the country via Laem Chabang Port. The haul, consisting of over 200,000 units worth approximately 40 million baht, was discovered inside a shipping container arriving from China.

 

The operation was carried out under the directive of Police Colonel Tawee Sodsong, Minister of Justice, who had ordered a thorough crackdown on the illegal importation of e-cigarettes. In response, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), in collaboration with the Customs Department and the Royal Thai Police, launched an investigation into the smuggling network.

 

Under the leadership of Police Lieutenant Colonel Yutthana Praedam, Director-General of the DSI, the Tax Crime Division was assigned to oversee the probe. Mr. Thanin Prempridi, Director of the Tax Crime Division, directed a task force led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Klahan Klongpayaban and Mr. Panpisit Visalses to conduct surveillance on suspected shipments. Acting on intelligence from informants, authorities were alerted to a container, numbered MRSU3507211, suspected of carrying illicit goods. The Customs Office at Laem Chabang Port was promptly notified, and the container was placed under surveillance.

 

At 18:00 on March 7, investigators from the DSI’s Tax Crime Division, together with Customs officials and police officers, opened the container for inspection. Inside, they discovered:

 

• 23,400 disposable e-cigarettes

• 6,000 bottles of e-liquid

• 172,000 vape pods pre-filled with e-liquid

 

A total of 201,400 contraband items were seized as evidence. The shipment was found to be in violation of the Customs Act B.E. 2560 (2017), as well as multiple Ministry of Commerce regulations prohibiting the importation and transit of e-cigarettes. These include the 2016 Ministry of Commerce announcement banning e-cigarette imports and the 2021 Customs Department directive on electronic customs procedures for transit goods.

 

The operation aligns with the recent directive issued by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra during a Cabinet meeting, instructing authorities to intensify efforts to curb the spread of illegal e-cigarettes in Thailand. The government has prioritised cracking down on smuggling routes, particularly along border areas, with a strict 30-day deadline to enforce stricter measures.

 

Authorities have announced that a press conference detailing the seizure will be held on Monday, March 10, at 15:00 at the Laem Chabang Port Customs Office, Chonburi. The event will be led by the Minister of Justice, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Deputy Minister of Finance.

 

This latest seizure highlights Thailand’s ongoing efforts to combat the illegal e-cigarette trade, reinforcing the government’s commitment to preventing contraband from entering the country. Investigations into the smuggling network behind the shipment are ongoing.

 

-- 2025-03-09

 

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