Photo by Borirak via Canva

 

In a developing controversy, two Chinese nationals have accused Thai Customs officials of extorting cash and unlawfully seizing luxury watches at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Bangkok, on August 4 of last year. This allegation surfaced after the story was posted by the Twitter account Red Skull on April 28, reportedly sourced from one of the Chinese men involved.

 

The two men brought two Rolex watches from Macao intending to perform a religious ceremony at the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok. However, customs officials allegedly stopped them, claiming that the watches were not declared and required tax payments. The officials demanded a fine of 300,000 baht, allegedly paid in a bathroom, a detail that has raised suspicions of illegality.

 

The watches were not returned to the men, who allege they were coerced into signing documents that transferred ownership to the Thai state. When they sought the watches' return, they were told to buy them back at prices set by Thai Customs. Attempts to file formal complaints were reportedly blocked at various levels.

 

Screenshots of conversations shared on WeChat show a dialogue between one of the Chinese men and a person claiming to be a Thai official. This person allegedly requested cash payments and assured the men that compliance would lead to a resolution, despite the Chinese nationals preferring legal channels.

 

 

 

In response, Thai Customs issued a statement on April 29 over Facebook, asserting that all actions were within legal bounds. The statement claims the Chinese travellers used the Nothing to Declare channel, implying an attempt to avoid tax payments. After further inspection, a man identifying himself as a government official reportedly intervened but was rebuffed by customs staff.

 

Despite the claims, Thai Customs stated that the tourists voluntarily surrendered the watches to conclude proceedings, denying any threats or coercion. The identities of those interfering as government officials have not been investigated.

 

The Administrative Court of Thailand has yet to issue a statement on the case. This incident highlights tensions and alleged misconduct at a major international airport, with both facts and reputations on the line. As the situation unfolds, it calls into question procedural transparency and accountability within Thai customs processes.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-04-30

 

 

Were the 'tourists' wearing the watches ?? 

 

Or, were the watches boxed up, with stickers remaining on them, indicating that the Tourists wanted to sell them here ?

 

There's more to this story than we are seeing, a few missing key points I'm sure...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hopefully this will dissuade Chinese from visiting. 

Quite possible... 

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

 

The two men brought two Rolex watches from Macao intending to perform a religious ceremony at the Erawan Shrine

Some things just leave a sensible Westerner entirely perplexed ...

 

Or is that an AI-generated sentence? so expecting common sense would be foolish.

Bent customs officers, say it ain't true.

15 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Were the 'tourists' wearing the watches ?? 

 

Or, were the watches boxed up, with stickers remaining on them, indicating that the Tourists wanted to sell them here ?

 

There's more to this story than we are seeing, a few missing key points I'm sure...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exactly 

Sounds VERY fishy to me.

The Chinese version sounds likely to be true.

However......who wants to lose face?

So the story tellers come out now

I don’t trust the Thai custom say you’re getting paid off in the bathroom come on TIT

Im on the side of the Thais over the Chinese every day.

On 4/30/2025 at 6:00 AM, snoop1130 said:

The two men brought two Rolex watches from Macao intending to perform a religious ceremony at the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok.

what does that mean?

what does a rolex have to do with a religious ceremony? 

 

I don't buy either side's story. These Chinese gangsters and bent Thai officials seem to deserve each other. 

 

But it will do wonders to Thailand's reputation as a safe tourist destination among the Chinese. Yet again. 

"The officials demanded a fine of 300,000 baht, allegedly paid in a bathroom, a detail that has raised suspicions of illegality."

Just a tad suspicious, but nothing to worry about. Perhaps the customs officer needed a pee!?🤗

Why only reported now when the incident happened in Aug last year..

To be honest I don't trust either of them...

1 hour ago, save the frogs said:

what does that mean?

what does a rolex have to do with a religious ceremony? 

 

I know right? Or a wooden penis for that matter? I just don't get religion.

1 hour ago, Surasak said:

"The officials demanded a fine of 300,000 baht, allegedly paid in a bathroom, a detail that has raised suspicions of illegality."

Just a tad suspicious, but nothing to worry about. Perhaps the customs officer needed a pee!?🤗

Possible, but who the heck packs around 300,000 baht on them? Money in carry on? doubt it.... what sort of wallets do these guys pack? 

So the expensive watches went missing. It would have been more interesting for the tourist outcome if the two Chinese had gone missing instead! lol

stolen goods? and a bribe to make the charges go away? 

elementary, watson. 

 

2 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Im on the side of the Thais over the Chinese every day.

Pah; two peas from the same pod !

1 hour ago, Emdog said:

Possible, but who the heck packs around 300,000 baht on them? Money in carry on? doubt it.... what sort of wallets do these guys pack? 

They came in from Macau. Very likely they were there to gamble in the casinos. The Chinese are fearless gamblers and there is naff all else to do in Macau. 

Hold my Beer Customs payment of 300,000 Baht...... allegedly paid in a bathroom.....in LOS anything is possible

It is sad to say, but given the hype over the dangers for Chinese travelling into Thailand. This is just another notch in the Chinese social media to deter them from travelling here. No matter what Thailand says or does will not stop the bad press that will be circulated to the average Chinese tourist. 

3 hours ago, chuang said:

Why only reported now when the incident happened in Aug last year..

 

Because the *other media sources scour social media for news to repost...  Even though this story occurred last year, it was posted by the Twitter (X) account Red Skull on April 28...

 

[*never AN News whose dedicated news team puts in the effort to deliver quality content from various recognised and reputable news sources*]

5 hours ago, save the frogs said:

what does that mean?

what does a rolex have to do with a religious ceremony? 

 

They make for an upmarket Tik Tok post?

6 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Im on the side of the Thais over the Chinese every day.

 

6 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Im on the side of the Thais over the Chinese every day.

I would not like you as a judge if I was charged with murder by a Thai official. You don't even know the evidence the Chinese have to defend themselves in this case. Let alone the Chinese insist with legal action which leans towards what they state is most likely fact. Otherwise they would have not bothered with it if it was not true.

20 minutes ago, cynic1 said:

 

I would not like you as a judge if I was charged with murder by a Thai official. You don't even know the evidence the Chinese have to defend themselves in this case. Let alone the Chinese insist with legal action which leans towards what they state is most likely fact. Otherwise they would have not bothered with it if it was not true.

The Chinese are liars, cheats and thieves as ambitious folks happen to be  under Socialism, which is a lie unto itself.  Rolexes. For religious ceremonies. Not smiling peasants I assume. You clearly havent been exposed to them much.

 

 

Question, if a bonafide touriste enters Thailand wearing a Rolex or other expensive watch, the tourist must declare it on entering ? And does that tourist have to pay duty on said watch even if it was old , or even if he had the proof of payment etc ?? 
And what about other jewelry items, diamond engagement rings for example , or bracelets ? 

Id better tell Kim Kardashian and co about this . 

 

14 hours ago, Caldera said:

But it will do wonders to Thailand's reputation as a safe tourist destination among the Chinese. Yet again. 

Only amongst those trying to illegally import luxury items by not declaring them and avoiding duty.

21 hours ago, Yagoda said:

The Chinese are liars, cheats and thieves as ambitious folks happen to be  under Socialism, which is a lie unto itself.  Rolexes. For religious ceremonies. Not smiling peasants I assume. You clearly havent been exposed to them much.

 

 

Ive been exposed to them in Australia In the 70's but those around then in Sydney and grew up here were good mates and adapted to our culture and hard working to support their family as Thais do. But this all depends on the country they were raised. As far as your comment" the Chinese are liars, cheats and thieves". my first thought of that comment reminded me of your Thai political system and the rich so. Ha Ha! 🙂

How to promote even more Chinese tourism to Thailand - explained. 

Provided the story is true, then the official customs authorities would have been better off to keep their mouth shut and pass on a proper examination to be conducted by the competent authorities; possibly letting some Chinese authority representatives be a part of the survey team.