File photo for reference only

 

The Thai Tobacco Trade Association (TTTA) has called on the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society to pressure Meta, the owner of Facebook, to curb the sale of contraband cigarettes on its platforms in Thailand. They assert that Facebook is a primary channel for distributing these illegal products to people of all ages, undermining government efforts to combat the black market.

 

The TTTA's campaign highlights how sellers on Facebook use group pages and product images to advertise illicit tobacco, often circumventing restrictions by using abbreviations instead of explicit terms such as 'cigarette'. This loophole, according to the TTTA's executive director Thanyasarun Saengthong, demonstrates Facebook's failure to effectively block such transactions. The association insists that Meta's advanced AI tools should be employed to scrutinize content thoroughly.

 

Additionally, paid advertising promoting illegal goods remains a significant concern. Confidential documents from Meta published by Reuters suggest that up to 10% of the company's 2024 revenue, around $16 billion, could come from deceptive ads and illegal sales. This underscores, according to TTTA, a critical governance issue and a lack of commitment to complying with Thai law.

 

The Thai Tobacco Product Control Act B.E. 2560 (2017) bans the sale, advertisement, and marketing of tobacco products electronically. Despite increased seizures and enforcement activities by Thai authorities—evidenced by a 39% rise in tobacco enforcement cases and fines exceeding 1.155 billion baht—the TTTA points out the hindrance posed by uncooperative online platforms like Facebook.

 

With urgent action deemed necessary, the TTTA demands that Facebook introduce stringent measures to prevent illegal cigarette sales on its site. They call for an investigation by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, framing the situation as a pressing social concern needing immediate government intervention.

 

Key Takeaways

• TTTA urges Meta to tackle illicit cigarette sales on Facebook.
• Confidential reports suggest possible revenue ties to illegal goods.
• Rising enforcement cases reflect platform-related cooperation issues.

 

Related Stories:

Pattaya Competes for 2026 ASEAN Smoke-Free Award

Thailand Urgently Amends Tobacco Act to Regulate E- Cigarettes

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Nation 2025-11-11

 

 

Thailand the hub of controlling.

Although the prices are way different it's the same in Australia where illicit cigs out sell the ligit ones. Black market cigs here I think are around the bt40 mark per packet whereas the taxed ones start at Bt72. In Aus around Aus $20 for the black market with taxed starting at something like $60 and goes north from there. Aus has the most expensive cigs in the world.  Tax. It's all about the money grab.

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

Although the prices are way different it's the same in Australia where illicit cigs out sell the ligit ones. Black market cigs here I think are around the bt40 mark per packet whereas the taxed ones start at Bt72. In Aus around Aus $20 for the black market with taxed starting at something like $60 and goes north from there. Aus has the most expensive cigs in the world.  Tax. It's all about the money grab.

Blame the government for that they increase the tax on sigs twice a year. Sigs is the most money-making drug, more than all the other drugs 

Monopolies hate competition. 

Oh - and all tobacco products should be banned and illegal. 

7 minutes ago, connda said:

Oh - and all tobacco products should be banned and illegal. 

Which of course will make the black market even bigger. They did this with vapes yet vapes are widely available online.

3 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Although the prices are way different it's the same in Australia where illicit cigs out sell the ligit ones. Black market cigs here I think are around the bt40 mark per packet whereas the taxed ones start at Bt72. In Aus around Aus $20 for the black market with taxed starting at something like $60 and goes north from there. Aus has the most expensive cigs in the world.  Tax. It's all about the money grab.

 

For the Australian cig market, I would bet a load that some very high government officials are deeply involved in the cig black market.

Proof is the shops selling the black market cigs hardly ever get busted.

24 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

 

For the Australian cig market, I would bet a load that some very high government officials are deeply involved in the cig black market.

Proof is the shops selling the black market cigs hardly ever get busted.

I know some think that government is a form of organised crime but the illicit cig market in Aus is coming from real organised crime.

1 hour ago, redwood1 said:

 

For the Australian cig market, I would bet a load that some very high government officials are deeply involved in the cig black market.

Proof is the shops selling the black market cigs hardly ever get busted.

Although they tend to burn down if one particular crowd has claimed the area. 

2 hours ago, Bagwain said:

Although they tend to burn down if one particular crowd has claimed the area. 

From what I've seen it's more a matter of sell our cigs or we'll burn you down.

 

10 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Thailand the hub of controlling.

Hub of importing illegal items.

On 11/11/2025 at 10:24 PM, dinsdale said:

Although the prices are way different it's the same in Australia where illicit cigs out sell the ligit ones. Black market cigs here I think are around the bt40 mark per packet whereas the taxed ones start at Bt72. In Aus around Aus $20 for the black market with taxed starting at something like $60 and goes north from there. Aus has the most expensive cigs in the world.  Tax. It's all about the money grab.

AUS changed the laws further in July this year to match the UK and the EU, in that you can no longer buy menthol cigarettes. Also you can no longer buy packets of 25.

Also in terms of duty free, the max you can bring in is 25 cigarettes, so buying a carton of 200 Duty Free at Swampy hits you in approx 30$ per packet.

As you say, the under the counter sales are out numbering official branded brands.