Crime Over 1.3 Million Cartons of Illegal Cigarettes Seized - Fines Almost 1.8 Billion Baht

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

The Excise Department has revealed the results of a sweeping crackdown on illegal tobacco smuggling across Thailand’s eastern provinces, uncovering over 1.3 million cartons of untaxed cigarettes in the first eight months of the fiscal year. The estimated fines related to the seizures have now almost reached an astonishing 1.8 billion baht.

 

Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul announced the figures during a visit to the Eastern Excise Region 2 office. He noted that the illegal trade includes smuggling via both land and sea, with distribution occurring through various channels including private courier services and online platforms.

 

One recent operation, triggered by a tip-off, led excise officers to a logistics hub in Si Racha district, Chonburi province. There, they discovered 22,760 cartons of untaxed cigarettes, with estimated fines totalling 21.4 million baht. The goods were immediately seized.

 

Authorities have identified two primary smuggling routes:

 

1. By sea, using boats to bring contraband into coastal provinces such as Chonburi, Rayong, and Samut Prakan.

 

2. By land, through natural border crossings, particularly along the eastern frontier, with smugglers using vehicles to transport illegal goods into the kingdom.

 

To combat the growing illicit trade, the Excise Department has ramped up collaboration with various agencies, including the Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Police, Department of Provincial Administration, Customs Department, and the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre. Partnerships with private logistics firms have also been strengthened to improve intelligence-sharing on smuggling networks and online sales activity.

 

From October 2024 to May 2025, the Excise Department’s Region 2 and its local branches recorded a total of 2,898 enforcement cases, an increase of 13% compared to the previous year. These cases generated a combined estimated fine of over 1.8 billion baht. The majority of cases (61.5%) were tobacco-related, followed by alcohol-related offences (27.5%).

 

Breakdown of Seized Items:

 

• Tobacco: 1,783 cases, fines totalling over 1.79 billion baht, with 1,332,148 cartons of foreign cigarettes and 116,768 cartons of domestic cigarettes seized.

 

• Alcohol: 799 cases, fines of 1.9 million baht, with over 15,000 litres of liquor seized.

 

• Fuel and oil products: 28 cases, 166,000 litres confiscated.

 

• Motorcycles: 87 cases, 215 bikes seized.

 

• Playing cards: 32 cases, 2,775 decks seized.

 

• Cars: 39 cases, 254 vehicles seized.

 

• Miscellaneous goods: 130 cases, including various untaxed items.

 

The Excise Department affirmed its commitment to tightening border controls and breaking illegal supply chains, particularly those exploiting online and courier-based distribution systems.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-06-19