Crime Government Unveils Three-Phase Plan to Tackle Illegal Cigarette Crisis

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Daily News

 

The government has launched a comprehensive three-phase crackdown on illegal cigarettes, aiming to curb a crisis that has caused the country to lose more than 25 billion baht annually in tax revenue. Authorities say the surge in illicit cigarette consumption is a direct consequence of recent enforcement campaigns against e-cigarettes.

 

With vaping products becoming harder to access due to tighter regulations, many users have reverted to smoking traditional cigarettes. However, the high cost of legal tobacco products has pushed smokers towards contraband alternatives, which are significantly cheaper and widely available online. These illegal products often mirror the flavour and branding of legal cigarettes, but are laced with higher levels of heavy metals and carcinogens, posing serious health risks.

 

A recent survey revealed that consumption of illegal cigarettes had risen from 25% to 28% in just a few months. The most affected provinces include Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Songkhla, Phatthalung, Phuket, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Ubon Ratchathani.

 

Beyond economic and health concerns, the trade in illicit cigarettes is increasingly linked to transnational crime. Authorities have discovered that smuggling networks often use the same routes to traffic narcotics and human cargo, particularly through border regions where surveillance is more difficult. These criminal networks are believed to possess a deep understanding of both consumer demand and the logistics of black-market distribution.

 

Government spokesperson Jirayu Huangsub confirmed that the administration will act decisively, implementing an integrated anti-smuggling strategy. The three-phase plan includes:

 

1. Immediate Measures: Targeting border zones to disrupt smuggling routes via land and sea. The Ministry of Finance’s Customs Department and Marine Police will play central roles under a special operations framework.

 

2. Short-Term Actions: Cracking down on retailers, including online vendors, with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society tasked with shutting down illegal websites, social media pages and URLs selling contraband tobacco. The Royal Thai Police will enhance investigations and tighten enforcement.

 

3. Long-Term Strategy: A public awareness campaign to educate citizens about the health and economic risks of illegal cigarettes, coupled with increased penalties for offenders. The goal is to reduce consumer demand, dismantle black-market operations and restore lawful trade.

 

Police General Prachuap Wongsuk, Deputy National Police Chief, noted that many illicit cigarettes enter the country by sea, concealed within legal shipments. He has instructed the Marine Police and coastal task forces to intensify inspections and collaborate with anti-narcotics and anti-human trafficking units.

 

The crackdown will be executed holistically, from “upstream” interception at borders, to “midstream” monitoring of transport networks and “downstream” enforcement targeting sellers and online platforms. Officials believe this approach will not only recover lost tax revenue but also lessen the burden on public health services and reduce smoking-related illnesses in the long term.

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Daily News 2025-07-31

 

 

 

[JoePai]

Idea : If they halved the tax in ciggies then they would have only lost 12.5b Baht  

[captain_shane]

I've always wondered why people feel like they can tell others what they can and can't ingest. Can anyone here explain to me why one set of adults gets to decide what another set of adults gets to do, especially with something like e-cigs? Even yaba, who cares if someone chooses to use it? Is it going to ruin their life, probably, but that's their choice. The only laws around this stuff should be for the protection of others, like theft and assualt and drinking and driving, etc.

[MarkBR]

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

 

Picture courtesy of Daily News

 

The government has launched a comprehensive three-phase crackdown on illegal cigarettes, aiming to curb a crisis that has caused the country to lose more than 25 billion baht annually in tax revenue. Authorities say the surge in illicit cigarette consumption is a direct consequence of recent enforcement campaigns against e-cigarettes.

 

With vaping products becoming harder to access due to tighter regulations, many users have reverted to smoking traditional cigarettes. However, the high cost of legal tobacco products has pushed smokers towards contraband alternatives, which are significantly cheaper and widely available online. These illegal products often mirror the flavour and branding of legal cigarettes, but are laced with higher levels of heavy metals and carcinogens, posing serious health risks.

 

A recent survey revealed that consumption of illegal cigarettes had risen from 25% to 28% in just a few months. The most affected provinces include Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Songkhla, Phatthalung, Phuket, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Ubon Ratchathani.

 

Beyond economic and health concerns, the trade in illicit cigarettes is increasingly linked to transnational crime. Authorities have discovered that smuggling networks often use the same routes to traffic narcotics and human cargo, particularly through border regions where surveillance is more difficult. These criminal networks are believed to possess a deep understanding of both consumer demand and the logistics of black-market distribution.

 

Government spokesperson Jirayu Huangsub confirmed that the administration will act decisively, implementing an integrated anti-smuggling strategy. The three-phase plan includes:

 

1. Immediate Measures: Targeting border zones to disrupt smuggling routes via land and sea. The Ministry of Finance’s Customs Department and Marine Police will play central roles under a special operations framework.

 

2. Short-Term Actions: Cracking down on retailers, including online vendors, with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society tasked with shutting down illegal websites, social media pages and URLs selling contraband tobacco. The Royal Thai Police will enhance investigations and tighten enforcement.

 

3. Long-Term Strategy: A public awareness campaign to educate citizens about the health and economic risks of illegal cigarettes, coupled with increased penalties for offenders. The goal is to reduce consumer demand, dismantle black-market operations and restore lawful trade.

 

Police General Prachuap Wongsuk, Deputy National Police Chief, noted that many illicit cigarettes enter the country by sea, concealed within legal shipments. He has instructed the Marine Police and coastal task forces to intensify inspections and collaborate with anti-narcotics and anti-human trafficking units.

 

The crackdown will be executed holistically, from “upstream” interception at borders, to “midstream” monitoring of transport networks and “downstream” enforcement targeting sellers and online platforms. Officials believe this approach will not only recover lost tax revenue but also lessen the burden on public health services and reduce smoking-related illnesses in the long term.

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Daily News 2025-07-31

 

 

 

They would have lots more revenue in Govt. coffers if they ditched the stupid cannabis re-criminalisation, and tackled endemic corruption. Then they could invest a lot more into revamping the education system to tackle the future.

Rhetorical of course, these things will never happen.

[smedly]

5 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The government has launched a comprehensive three-phase crackdown on illegal cigarettes, aiming to curb a crisis

crisis ?

[Ricardo]

47 minutes ago, smedly said:

crisis ?

 The crisis is loss-of-money.  

[redwood1]

Well this article makes it clear as day the crackdown is about nothing but money.....Or money out of their pockets.....

 

First it was E cigs are very dangerous....

Now its any regular cigs not sold by them is very very dangerous....

 

Their cigs are very safe and very good and only their cigs....

 

Look at all the glum faces of the officers....Even they know the whole thing stinks.....

[Will B Good]

6 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

A public awareness campaign to educate citizens about the health and economic risks of illegal cigarettes

 

Health risks.......of illegal cigarettes? Is this genuine?

 

I always assumed they were genuine products being smuggled, but I guess with China on the doorstep fake cigarettes could be manufactured with little or no control over their contents????

[redwood1]

13 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

Health risks.......of illegal cigarettes? Is this genuine?

 

I always assumed they were genuine products being smuggled, but I guess with China on the doorstep fake cigarettes could be manufactured with little or no control over their contents????

 

Trust me I have smoked plenty of Thai Branded cigs from 7-11 and the quality stinks.....Loads of additives in them.....The smuggled cigs from Cambodia like Marlboro knock offs also are bad quality maybe even worse.......But to imply Thai cigs are quality in any way is just criminal honestly...

[Will B Good]

1 minute ago, redwood1 said:

 

Trust me I have smoked plenty of Thai Branded cigs from 7-11 and the quality stinks.....Loads of additives in them.....The smuggled cigs from Cambodia like Marlboro knock offs also are bad quality maybe even worse.......But to imply Thai cigs are quality in any way is just criminal honestly...

 

Got it.....and I guess, in terms of packaging, they are indistinguishable from the real thing?

[redwood1]

6 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

Got it.....and I guess, in terms of packaging, they are indistinguishable from the real thing?

 The Cambodian  Marlboro knock offs packaging looks very similar to the real ones....But I cant recall if they look 100% the same.....But the smoke quality is quite poor.....Almost enough to get you to quit smoking....lol......

And like I said Thai cigs are not much better....

[Will B Good]

3 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

 The Cambodian  Marlboro knock offs packaging looks very similar to the real ones....But I cant recall if they look 100% the same.....But the smoke quality is quite poor.....Almost enough to get you to quit smoking....lol......

And like I said Thai cigs are not much better....

 

Stupid question.....as I don't even smoke.....but what do you do/where do you go to buy good, 'healthy' original products?