Woman Arrested in Bangkok for Selling Illegal Cigarettes

Picture courtesy of SiamNews

A 39-year-old woman has been arrested in Din Daeng for allegedly distributing untaxed foreign cigarettes within her community, with many of her customers reportedly being minors and teenagers.

The arrest was made by officers from the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECSD) under the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB). The suspect, identified as Ms Orapan, faces charges related to customs and excise tax violations.

Authorities seized 90 cartons of foreign-origin cigarettes which had not undergone customs clearance or proper tax payment procedures. The seizure took place in Soi Prachasongkroh 3, Din Daeng District, Bangkok.

The investigation began after concerned residents in the Din Daeng flat community reported suspicious activities involving the sale of illegal cigarettes. Police discovered that a growing number of local youths had turned to smuggled cigarettes, which are easily accessible and significantly cheaper than legally taxed products.

Acting on surveillance and intelligence, officers observed a motorcycle delivery service behaving suspiciously in the area. Several small parcels were being delivered to a middle-aged woman matching the description of the suspect. Upon confrontation and inspection, officers found the contraband cigarettes hidden inside the parcels.

Ms Orapan was immediately taken into custody and informed of her legal rights. She confessed during questioning that she had been working with her boyfriend to distribute the cigarettes throughout the neighbourhood. Her boyfriend allegedly placed orders online, while she was responsible for collecting the packages, which were delivered once or twice weekly, each time containing four to five boxes of cigarettes.

Ms Orapan faces charges under:

1. The Customs Act – for possessing and distributing goods that had not passed through customs procedures;

2. The Excise Tax Act – for possessing and selling untaxed products without lawful authorisation.

The ECSD stated that the operation is part of a proactive enforcement campaign against the illegal trade of untaxed goods. Authorities will continue to trace the supply chain, focusing on online vendors and other parties involved in the distribution network.

The public is reminded that participating in the smuggling, sale or concealment of untaxed products is a criminal offence and carries significant penalties.

  Adapted by Asean Now from SiamNews 2025-08-02