Crime CIB Raids Rayong Construction Company Over Illegal Chinese Pipe Imports

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

 

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) has raided a construction supply company in Rayong province following a tip-off that the business was smuggling plastic pipes from China into Thailand without paying import duties.

 

Acting on orders from Police Lieutenant General Jiraphop Phuridej, Commissioner of the CIB, officers from the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD), under the command of senior officers including Police Major General Thaspoom Jaruprach, coordinated the raid on Wee Thai Construction Co., Ltd., located near the Airplane Market in Nikom Phatthana district.

 

The company and its executives are accused of violating customs laws by knowingly concealing and distributing untaxed goods. The goods in question, PVC and PE pipes, are commonly used in agricultural irrigation, plumbing and electrical conduit systems.

 

The investigation began after complaints were filed by consumers who questioned how the company could sell products significantly cheaper than competitors. Authorities suspected the low prices were a result of the goods being smuggled into the country to avoid customs duties.

 

Surveillance and intelligence gathering by the ECD’s Subdivision 2 revealed the company had indeed been importing large quantities of pipes without passing through formal customs procedures. Officers secured a search warrant from Rayong Provincial Court and proceeded with the raid.

 

During the operation, authorities discovered over 1,000 pieces of PE and PVC piping of Chinese origin stored at the company’s warehouse. The company was unable to provide documentation proving the legal importation of the goods or the payment of relevant duties.

 

As a result, the CIB seized the goods and filed a formal complaint against both the company and its authorised executive director. Legal proceedings have begun under The Customs Act, which prohibits the possession or sale of goods that have not cleared customs inspection.

 

During preliminary questioning, the suspect confessed to all charges, admitting that the pipes were brought into Thailand illegally. The company had been mixing undeclared products with legitimately imported goods in order to avoid detection. The pipes were brought in via Laem Chabang Port and had been distributed across the local market for nearly a year.

 

The suspect claimed the motivation behind the operation was to meet high market demand while keeping prices low. However, authorities warned that such actions not only breach customs law but also pose potential safety and quality risks to consumers.

 

The investigation is ongoing and the CIB has signalled that it will continue to crack down on similar operations across the country to protect consumers and uphold fair market competition.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-06-09