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Prohibitive Items In Thailand


DaveYo

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Hi all,

Just wanted to mention to all members here of some very good information that will save you a major headache later on should any of you decide to do such in Importing Items into Thailand.

Yes what many of us read from the Customs site, and also from other sources of information that we can gleen from in our quest etc., to either bring in goods from abroad, whether it is for your own personal use or otherwise a lot of information is not there for you to know what is really illegal or prohibited here in Thailand.

Yes from what you read from the Customs here is what is missing on their list as items prohibited:

1. Chainsaws of any kind for any reason you may deem valid.

2. If you do bring in a prohibited item, and then find out without knowing in the first place, they will not let you send it back out to its origins and Customs will ask you to get an Import License Permit, which is virtually impossible, let alone illegal to obtain one since the Thai Law Prohibits its entry. The Thai Customs seems to not understand the meaning of the word IMPORT!!!!!!!!

3. It is considered entered into the country of Thailand once it reaches either the port of land, be it from the ship or from an airplane. Many have disputed this claim coming from Thailand, since it is at Customs and still not thru Customs. For the most part many claim that such being a port of such entry is still considered Neutral Zone since such item has not passed Customs clearance.

4. Thailand Customs do deny you the right to send back your illegal items. They also not mention in any of their sites, of the fines that they can impose upon you, plus force you to pay storage fees, plus also sue you for bringing something in illegally, plus charge you for attempted smuggling.

5. In regards to Number 4 above, Thailand Customs do not understand the true meaning of SMUGGLING!!!!!!!!!. If you went thru the proper legal channels of such shipment, and such item or items reaches the Customs under normal channels, such cannot be claimed attempted smuggling or even smuggling itself.

6. Also prohibited from entry is Dog Food, requiring an FDA permit, Laundry Soap, any petroleum oil of any kind, also certain radios, Radar devices, and some other electronic items, and many household items require Permits from the various departments here in Thailand. Customs does not list these items and tell you where you must obtain such permits, let alone tell you what department handles these requests.

7. Customs also does not tell you how they charge you on your items either. They charge you based on your declared value of goods, and then they charge you based on the cost of your shipment in either port or via airport, and then they charge you based on the weight of each item, besides issuing duty taxes, fees, and vat taxes on your import.

8. Customs usually refer to laws dated in 1978!!!!!!!!! and not the current laws, believe it or not when it comes down to any smuggling accusations whether intentional or not.

9. Last but not the least the Director of Customs at Bangkok International Airport is a very notorious individual, and will not compromise anything with you, and even tell you to do something illegal knowing such as an Import License Permit for a Prohibited Item in the first place, and also can threaten you on many issues thus giving you a huge major headache. On these Items it seems that such wants to be claimed by Thailand, so they can have it without re-imbursing you back your hard earned funds, and totally block you of your rights to immediately send such prohibited item back out of Thailand.

So to all of you here in this wonderful forum, PLEASE BEWARE of what secrets lies underneath CUSTOMS. TRIPLE CHECK yourself before sending anything here from abroad, and also if you know others who deal business here in Thailand from abroad, please tell them they are getting ripped wide open from the Customs secret valuation system as to how they charge you overall.

If you encounter such problems the only solution you have and recourse is to drop the matter before them and let them have it and swallow your pride and also your money of what it cost you to buy such and also what it cost you to send it. Doing it this way you can avoid huge storage fees, plus fines, plus a lawsuit from them, plus any charges they might want to hit you with if you continue to pursue your trusty item or items.

The next time you want to do it again, use your head and be smart. This is not my advice, but merely a statement and I will not be responsible for anything incurring out of this statement. Your on your own.

Now if any of you my friends also know other prohibited items here in Thailand, please mention it so a list can be compiled together, so George here can have such list for all the expats to read and review thus saving many from having a headache such as I got from Customs recently. I fought them for 2 solid months arguing with them and it cost me 10,000 Baht on my phone bill, plus about 5 travel trips worth of gas back and forth from Nakhon Sawan to Bangkok.

Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesh :o:D:D

Daveyo

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From Thai Customs web site:

http://www.customs.go.th/Customs-Eng/Posta...e=PostalParcels

Customs Procedure For Postal Parcels

1. Functions

The Postal Customs House is responsible for customs control on postal items, such control is exercised through selective inspection of postal items both imported and exported by mail, assessing and collecting duties payable, and through supervising the depositing and mailing of postal items.

2. Location

The Postal Customs House is located at Bangkok Mail Center, Rongmuang Road, Patumwan District, Bangkok 10000, tel. 022150966-8, near the Hua Lumphong Railway station, behind Wat Duang Khae.

3. Categories of Postal Items

Postal items sent from abroad to Thailand are subject to selective inspection by the Customs officers and can be categorized into 3 groups as follows:

Group 1 Postal items sent by mail and the value of each dose not exceed 1,000 baht , or trade samples of no commercial value are exempted from duty. The Customs officers will deliver such items to the Communication Authority of Thailand for further distribution to the consignees

Group 2 Postal items, regardless of the number of packages, sent by mail as personal effects, gifts or trade samples of no commercial nature sent at the same time by one consigner to another consignee or arrived simultaneously with a declared value not exceeding 20,000 baht and regardless of the implied amount of duties payable, the customs officers will independently make assessment of their value and deliver such items to the Communication Authority of Thailand for delivery to the consignees from whom duties will be collected on behalf of the Customs.

Group 3 For postal items other than Group 1 and Group 2, the Customs officers will select and deliver such items to the Communication Authority of Thailand for storage in the Postal Customs Warehouse pending the consignees taking delivery of a same

For goods of Group 2, the Customs officers will open the packages with the presence of officers from the Communication Authority of Thailand to jointly inspect and make assessment of goods. The officers of the Communication Authority of Thailand will securely seal the packages with plastic tape prior to stamping the packages as having been inspected by the Customs. Officers of Communication Authority of Thailand will then make delivery of such packages and collect duties on behalf of the Customs.

If the consignees of postal items disagree with any duties assessment , this has to be put in writing submitted to the Chief of Postal Customs House for delivery to the officers of the Communication Authority of Thailand so that further action can be taken as requested by the consignees. It should be noted that the consignees must not accept the disputed postal items and instead they must notify the officers of the Communication Authority of Thailand of such disagreement on the assessment.

For goods already assessed, if the consignees would like to have a tax certificate, a receipt of payment of duty together with a copy of the notification from the Communication Authority of Thailand must be used when contacting the Postal Customs House.

For postal items of Group 3, the officers of the Communication Authority of Thailand will issues a notification to the consignee to complete the necessary customs formalities at the Postal Customs House or at a Customs House close to the consignee in the provinces.

For postal items of Group 2, if the officers consider that the assessment of duties might be disputed, thus creating difficulties in making amendments or requiring the submission of entry or fulfilling other customs formalities or being restricted or prohibited goods, such postal items will be selected and combined with postal items of Group 3 for storage, all customs formalities would then apply under that group.

4. Documents Required for Receipt of Postal Items at the Postal Customs House

A. Document required for fulfilling customs formalities in case of receiving goods by oneself:

1. The notification of overseas postal items;

2. The personal identification card or any cards issued by the government agencies of the consignee whose name appears on the notification.

B. In the case of authority being given to other persons to receive goods on behalf of oneself:

1. The notification of overseas postal items with the authority appointer being filled in details on the back of the notification and duly signed;

2. The identification card of the appointer ;

3. The identification card of the appointee;

C. In the case of the consignee being a legal entity, such as a company, a firm or a shop

1. The notification of overseas postal items;

2. The owner’s card or a manager’s card or the appointee’s card or an identification card of a person empowered to sign the documents binding such legal entity ;

3. A copy of company registration;

4. A copy of commercial registration;

5. An authorized person must sign and stamp the company seal on the back of the notification of overseas postal items.

Remark : An appointee is not allowed to authorize a third person.

5. Steps of Customs Formalities for the Receipt of Goods by on-the-spot Payment of Duties (in case where value of goods does not exceed 20,000 baht )

5.1 Submit the notification along with relevant documents at Counter No. 1 for verification of documents and receipt of Form 503 and the voucher of Postal Customs House for the consignee to fill in;

5.2 Submit the notification along with relevant documents at Counters Nos. 2,3 or 4 for counterbalancing with the postal records and checking the value declared on the package. If the value exceeds 20,000 baht, the consignee is required to make an import entry. Otherwise the following steps in fulfilling customs formalities are applicable;

5.3 Submit the notification along with all documents at Counter No. 5 where the inspection row and the specific inspector will be designated. The Consignee will wait for the receipt of Form 503 and proceed to inspect the goods at the row of inspection mentioned in Form 503 until the officers of the storage section send the packages from the customs warehouse to the inspector;

5.4 When the inspector receives the package, he will inform the consignee to open the package by himself and endorse the particulars of goods in the notification for delivery to the appraiser to assess the amount of duties and storage fee (if any) payable. The inspector will then collect the duties and issue a receipt and fill in the particulars of goods in the voucher for delivery to the consignee;

5.5 The consignee will bring the packages being released along with a receipt and voucher to be presented to officers at the exit point for checking prior to being allowed out of the Postal Customs House.

Remark: In step 4, should there be doubts on the goods arises on the part of the inspector or appraiser, samples will be sent to customs laboratory or goods requiring licenses from the Food and Drug Administration or the Agriculture Department, such goods will be sent to the officers of Food and Drug Administration or Plant Quarantine attached to the Postal Customs House for checking .

6. Goods being Detained

In case where postal items have gone through the necessary formalities but kept in custody and cannot be taken out within one day, this can arise from various causes due to which the officers have to detain them for further clearance on the following day, these are :

6.1 the consignee of postal items does not have sufficient funds to pay the duties;

6.2 there may be problems on value, tariff or the particulars of goods, the officers may detain the goods pending further documents to be presented by the consignee;

6.3 Such goods may require import license or subject to control on importation and the consignee does not have supporting license to be presented to the officers.

In case where goods are detained, the consignee must contact the Postal Customs House for presentation of document(s) to the officers and make payment of duties and effect clearance within two months and 15 days from the date of importation. If the period is overdue, the Postal Customs House will take further action on packages being detained in accordance with the Customs Law.

7. Return of Postal Items

7.1 For postal items which remain at Postal Customs House for 30 days, without being claimed or cleared by a consignee The Postal Customs House will return the postal items to the officers of Communication Authority of Thailand who will proceed to have them sent back to the country of origin. In case where someone (presumably the consignee) comes to claims the goods after the expiry of 30 days, and these goods have not been returned to the country of origin. The officers of the Communication Authority of Thailand will return such goods again to the Postal Customs House for further action as requested by the consignee.

7.2 Postal items remaining at the Postal Customs House for which the consignee has already fulfilled customs formalities and would like to have the goods returned to the country of origin , the consignee is required to submit an import entry and export entry provided that such goods are not prohibited goods or goods requiring license(s), should one be required it must be made available .

7.3 Postal packages which contain prohibited items requiring license(s) such as firearm(s). may be kept at the Postal Customs House for more than 1 month, customs officers are empowered to seize or detain such items for further action without having to return it (them) to the officers of the Communication Authority of Thailand.

8. Customs Formalities for Import Entry

Clearance of postal items which cannot be cleared by informal formalities such as goods of more than 20,000 baht including goods requiring licenses such as firearms or imitation firearms are subject to fulfillment of complete import entry requirements having been checked and assessed by the customs officers.

9. Export of Postal Items

Export of postal items to foreign countries can be conducted at the post office nationwide in accordance with the regulations of the Communications Authority of Thailand without being inspected by the Customs officers under the following conditions:

1. Such items are not prohibited for export.

2. Such items are not subject to export license(s).

3. Such items are not subject to export duty or government fee(s).

4. Such items, regardless of the number of packings, are collectively valued at no more than 10,000 baht for each export or valued of no more than 5,000 baht for precious stones, jewelry, gold and white gold jewelry.

5. Such items are not subject to duty drawback or duty compensation.

6. Such items do not require a re -importation certificate.

Postal items exported by mail, not falling under the conditions mentioned in item nos. 1 – 6, are subject to fulfillment of export entry and checked by the customs officers.

From DHL website:

The following commodities are NOT acceptable for transport by DHL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES due to Operational, Legal, and Risk Management implications.

Animals

Antiques(fragile and/or breakable)

Asbestos

Bullion

Currency

Firearms, parts thereof and ammunition

Furs

Hazardous or combustible materials as defined in IATA Regulation

Human Remains, including ashes.

Jewellery

Narcotics (illegal)

Property, the carriage of which is prohibited by any law, regulation of stature of any federal, state or local government of any country to or through which the shipment may be carried.

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I also forgot to mention here too of the following:

Prohibitive Items entering Thailand: Of course which is also not listed anywhere in the Customs site or from any carrier!!!!!!!!!!

1. Any CD's containing of Sexual Material

2. Any sexual aid devices either for males or females deemed to be Immoral by Thailand!!!!!

3. Any sexual stimulants whether in liquid form or in powder form.

Now I just kinda wonder if Petroleum Jelly falls under the Prohibitive category????? or if one needs to obtain an Import License Permit for your grease!!!!!!!! :D:D

Just picture this scenario for a moment, Ahhhhhh sir, can I have an Import License Permit for my Petroleum Jelly for my personal use. Watch the look on the face of the permit officer of the Minister of Industry since it is classified petroleum of nature, and that they literally give you the look down and snicker at you and burst out laughing since customs is requiring you to obtain an Import License Permit.

What a wonderful day that would be for any Katoey within ear shot of that request.

:D:D:o:D

Sheeeeeeeeeeesh

Daveyo :D

Edited by DaveYo
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items prohibited: 

                        1.    Chainsaws of any kind for any reason you may deem valid.

On a bright note, at least that will prevent the Texas Chainsaw Massacre murderer from bringing in his preferred weapon of choice... :o

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...

Currency

...

I found out about this one not too long ago. How many people do you suppose are sending money in the form of dollars, euros, or pounds, into Thailand?

Little do they know, they are breaking the law.

I find it hard to believe that Thai Customs officer would charge someone for sending money, it would make the most sense for him simply to take it. If the person complains that the money sent never arrived, then he has admitted to doing something illegal.

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Hmmm, I know this much concerning currency. If you take currency out of the USA, they allow up to 10,000 USA dollars or in same as thai 375,000 Baht. Also I see posted in and around Bangkok International Airport that they allow you to take out max 50,000 Baht or in USA 1,265 Dollars.

Now if one is sending cash via post or some other means, this is a new one to me as to it being illegal. How much do they allow?????????, and when does it become illegal????????

AGAIN HERE , CUSTOMS DO NOT NOTIFY YOU EITHER WAY UNTIL THE INCIDENT OCCURS. Does anyone know the answer to this subject being CURRENCY???????, or has anyone had any experiences in dealing with customs on this issue? If so PLEASE POST IT , for us to be informed.

Daveyo

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I think I mentioned this once before, but a Swedish guy I met, got pulled for importing a case full of sex aids, dildos and stuff. Maybe they are prohibited items.

They seem to be stricter on this kind of stuff since the puritanical TRT got into power. Did he get anything more than an on-the-spot fine?

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Hmmm, I know this much concerning currency. If you take currency out of the USA, they allow up to 10,000 USA dollars or in same as thai 375,000 Baht. Also I see posted in and around Bangkok International Airport that they allow you to take out max 50,000 Baht or in USA 1,265 Dollars.

You can take out more than 10.000USD from the US you just have to declare it.

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Even before I packed my stuff to come to Thailand, I knew some things would raise the eyebrows of the Thai Customs inspector. Sure enough, when my goods arrived, I was told to meet with a Customs inspector @ the TPT. I found that all 21 cartons of goods, almost 3 cubic meters, had been spread on the floor of the Customs area. The inspector started asking questions of such minutiae, I got a headache. I was given several volumes of Thai custom law, in English and Thai, and my transgressions were noted. I started to kid around with the inspector, poking fun at bureaucracy, something even a bureaucrat could laugh about. Less than 15 minutes later, this guy was doubled over in laughter and told his second-in-command, "No duty. He can keep everything." I got off easy.

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I also forgot to mention here too of the following:

Prohibitive Items entering Thailand:  Of course which is also not listed anywhere in the Customs site or from any carrier!!!!!!!!!!

    1.    Any CD's containing of Sexual Material

    2.    Any sexual aid devices either for males or females deemed to be Immoral by Thailand!!!!!

    3.    Any sexual stimulants whether in liquid form or in powder form. 

Now I just kinda wonder if Petroleum Jelly falls under the Prohibitive category?????  or if one needs to obtain an Import License Permit for your grease!!!!!!!! :D  :D

Just picture this scenario for a moment,  Ahhhhhh sir, can I have an Import License Permit for my Petroleum Jelly for my personal use.  Watch the look on the face of the permit officer of the Minister of Industry since it is classified petroleum of nature, and that they literally give you the look down and snicker at you and burst out laughing since customs is requiring you to obtain an Import License Permit.

What a wonderful day that would be for any Katoey within ear shot of that request.

:D  :D  :o  :D

Sheeeeeeeeeeesh

Daveyo :D

Surely that would fall under Petroleum Products, mentioned in a previous post!!

Just buy KY here in Thailand.

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Also I see posted in and around Bangkok International Airport that they allow you to take out max 50,000 Baht or in USA 1,265 Dollars.

That is Thai currency.

You can take out any amount of other currencies, if you declared it on arrival.

This was written on the old customs form, which has now disappeared.

I am not sure how the ordinary traveller is supposed to know, but I guess that is the whole point of this thread.

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This is my experience

The following have problems coming into Thailand

Uninterrrupted power supplies , may have to go to the electrical department for testing

Completed motorcycles

Electronic ballast, dont know why , maybe have factory making them here

Medical machines, magnetic treatment have problems bring thme in, however need time to clear with various departments

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Thats long winded, i brought all my house hold goods when i came to live here, once go work permit got everything cleared through customs with no charges and they never opened any of the boxes to see what was in them.

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Chuchok, Even those people don't even know many of the answers to our questions. Why, cause Customs don't tell them all the rules and what is prohibitive or illegal. And if you did have any of these people, such as say you brought a chainsaw in, even they cannot get it to pass thru (from Bangkok Airport) but maybe one can get it thru at other places. Don't know but you can be guaranteed they will charge you a pretty shining Baht no doubt to get it cleared if such is possible.

That is the purpose of this thread, to find out from others their experiences and compile a list of these items in one format and hopefully our wonderful George here can post such on their hands off section for all to review before shipping such and that such is kept up to date.

To Expatinasia, you are extremely very lucky!!!!!! It so happens somehow you had access to the restricted area which does not happen that often. I take it that your goods arrived by ship which is a different area and of course under different supervision and crew.

The ones at Bangkok Airport are the ones to really be made wary of and one must BEWARE OF THEM.

Keep the information coming in folks.

We all need to spill it out so we all can know one way or another

Thanks again for your wonderful input.

Daveyo

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I think I mentioned this once before, but a Swedish guy I met, got pulled for importing a case full of sex aids, dildos and stuff. Maybe they are prohibited items.

They seem to be stricter on this kind of stuff since the puritanical TRT got into power. Did he get anything more than an on-the-spot fine?

They detained all his luggage, and told him to return the next day after they had more thoroughly examined everything.

He went back the next day, collected his baggage and was allowed to keep hi collection of sex toys, but told he must take them back out of the country. He did not mention any fine, just that the whole thing was a pain and he couldn't change into fresh clothes etc.

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Now how would they know he took it back out of the country??????? You mean he had to show it to the check in lady at the counter and announce to her he got some sex toys that must leave too!!!!!!!!!!! :D:D:D

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. I can picture this one out. Wondered what that girl must've thought!!!!!!!!!!! :D:D

Daveyo :o

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4.     Thailand Customs do deny you the right to send back your illegal items.  They also not mention in any of their sites, of the fines that they can impose upon you, plus force you to pay storage fees, plus also sue you for bringing something in illegally, plus charge you for attempted smuggling.

To be fair I doubt if any Country in the world would allow you to attempt to Import illegal items (whether Chainsaws .............. or Narcotics) then, when they confront you, simply let you say:

"Whoops! That's illegal? I never knew that! OK, I'll just take it back and we'll forget about the whole thing"

Patrick

Edited by p_brownstone
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Hold it Illegal Narcotics is one thing and everyone for the most part around the world knows it is illegal to ship or to bring such in, let alone the penalties that are well known.

This is about your own personal tools or items which is legal in your original place of residence and such is no problem but when one moves and goes to another area, and its legallity is unknown, much less also go thru the normal channels as dictated such as FED EX or DHL or Emery freight etc, and such is approved for shipping etc,,. and then it arrives at the designation only to find out the particular item in question happens to be illegal or prohibited in that country.

So P.Brownstone I can tell you this much had this scenario took place in USA, the customs will kindly inform you and ask that you re-ship such out of the country without delay and they give you the chance and opportunity and even help direct you where you need to go in doing such, without a major hassle due to the circumstances. Items of perisable goods or Dope or anything classified under the protected speices act or weapons without prior approval for such does not apply. These are confiscated outright.

If such was Illegal Narcotics, you would be getting arrested right on the spot.

HERE IN THAILAND THEY STEAL IT FROM YOU AND NOT ALLOW YOU TO RE-SHIP IT OUT OF THEIR COUNTRY UNDER SUCH HORRIBLE COMMUNICATIVE CIRCUMSTANCES.

The Customs of Thailand are pure sharks and they know it outright, and they don't even make a half ass effort to post all the prohibitive items into Thailand. Let alone they also do not tell you their secret valuation criteria in their efforts to LEGALLY EXTORT MORE MONEY FROM YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and also they don't make an half ass effort to notify the IMPORTER CARRIERS that deal with goods on a daily basis here. FED EX here in Thailand admitted to me verbally and in writing that the Customs never gave them the entire list of what is allowed or not allowed up to this date. OK

In USA it is cut and dry and no HIDDEN ADDITIVES OF CALCULATIONS BEING APPLIED TO YOUR PERSONAL EFFECTS.

It is well known that the Customs of Thailand and the Customs of the Philippines are extremely very corrupt. At least in the Philippines the President is cleaning that house up surely and bringing back a reputation of honesty and fairness.

Thailand and its Customs has not even gotten started to clean up their own because here they are super greedy and such is controlled by the MAFIA.

OK now you understand?????????

Daveyo

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...

Currency

...

I found out about this one not too long ago. How many people do you suppose are sending money in the form of dollars, euros, or pounds, into Thailand?

Little do they know, they are breaking the law.

I find it hard to believe that Thai Customs officer would charge someone for sending money, it would make the most sense for him simply to take it. If the person complains that the money sent never arrived, then he has admitted to doing something illegal.

I've never heard that it is illegal to send currency by mail (AFAIK it's just not recommended as it is unlikely to arrive at the destination), and the information George posted is not that it is illegal, but that DHL will not carry it - I think this is more to do with insurance and related issues than that it is illegal.

It is illegal to import or export currency in Thai Baht over certain limits - but this sort of law applies in most countries in the world, just the amounts vary.

If anyone knows that there is a Thai Customs ruling on posting currency, then I stand corrected... :o

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Why didn't you consult either a broker/freight forwarder beforehand?

My experience is also not good a friend from Belgium after his information at the post office and the camber of commerce if there is an problem to send two RC model aircraft transmitters there was no any problem.

But when the parcel was arriving there was a big problem first they was thinking that I want to make a bomb then the frequencies was the problem then the transmitting output power was the problem.

The people at the customers services working whit in the left-hand the law but the right-hand want money so in my case they want 20.000 Bath then there is no problem to import my transmitters sorry I don’t support this behavior.

I don’t have send it back it is 9 years old but I know after 3 month they sell it to an other Thai.

My answers in this I take care of a Thai lady she want buy land but I stop every think I don’t spend more money in Thailand.

Thailand the country of smile ??????????????????????

Billshot64

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My friend, this is precisely the point of Customs here in Thailand. They are sharks, and they do try to extort money from you with threats of you not receiving your own personal goods, and also force you to choose to pay them or not, because if you not pay them, then they tell you cannot ship it back out and they get to keep it FREE!!!!!!!!!!!, and turn right around and sell it to next highest bidder with you out of sight.

I do want to say something here really badly, but my commons sense says not to say it, cause of its implications. But I can say this, what goes around is going to come around 100 times harder. That is a promise. Time is on my side on this matter. I don't have to worry about looking over my shoulder. They do. Cause they have created a heap of enemies and such a mess that they are walking on a mine field daily.

Daveyo

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My friend, this is precisely the point of Customs here in Thailand.  They are sharks, and they do try to extort money from you with threats of you not receiving your own personal goods, and also force you to choose to pay them or not, because if you not pay them, then they tell you cannot ship it back out and they get to keep it FREE!!!!!!!!!!!, and turn right around and sell it to next highest bidder with you out of sight.

I do want to say something here really badly, but my commons sense says not to say it, cause of its implications.  But I can say this, what goes around is going to come around 100 times harder.  That is a promise.  Time is on my side on this matter.  I don't have to worry about looking over my shoulder.  They do.  Cause they have created a heap of enemies and such a mess that they are walking on a mine field daily.

Daveyo

Car bomb's ??????? :o:D

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No, what I am saying is Customs has created their own un-holy mess, and in doing so has created many enemies be it a foreigner or some thai person.

The way they do things to people is horrible and really they are worst than gypsies. At least the gypsies got better sense and know how to do things that will not cause super anger.

I have utter contempt to the Customs because their greed has gone way over their own heads, and just watching them lick their chops constantly just makes one sick knowing they belong in some mental ward.

Someone mentioned here about the chainsaw massacre. Heck guess who would be getting chopped nicely and set about anywhere. You got it. It certainly won't be trees that is for sure.

Daveyo

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DaveYo, what happened to you? You had a run-in with a customs officer?

Whiloe I do not disagree that this special department has a reputation of asking for certain contributions we should be fair and separate.

a) Customs at international airport controlling travellers.

These guys do a decent job, which is basically avoiding any smuggled and/or illegal items entering the country.

What do travellers bring with them? Personal items for personal use while visiting the country or having used while being abroad.

The total value should be not more than Baht 10,000. OK, this amount is small, being just abt. Euro 200, but I never heard of anybody being bothered for having a few suits in the luggage.

Chain-saw made me laugh, but then I daresay not so many travellers do carry such items on them.

Prohibited merchandises (e.g., controlled substances, pornography, counterfeit goods, etc.) is clearly mentioned as not allowed and yes it will be confiscated.

But in daily arrivals, do you think the customs makes a fuss, when you have your bag of 20 or 30 kgs and some hand carried things? Actually, NO.

You bring a bottle or two too many, or too many cigarettes. Usually, IF the bother at all they tel you 'next time no more".

:D Import by air. This, of course is a completely different subject. Usually, you should be an importer bringing merchandise in. You declare it, present catalogues, present an invoice with a reasonable value and you should be safe. Not so, of course, if you underdeclare. So before you enter a new product on your import range, you clear it beforehand with the customs. You check if an import licence is required, if anybody is the registered imorter of a trademark item a.s.o.

c) Items you bring in by air as hand- or checked luggage being samples or tools of your trade. Now this is a difficult thing. If you are a salesman dealing in cutlery, I see no problem, unless you bring a machete and want to explain that this is to cut buffalo - meat.

Corruption? Tell me. Not really for the average traveller even if s/he is over the duty free limit. For genuine importing companies? May be to speed up things or to keep the duty down. Let's face it it's illegal.

Gray zones? Yes, too many to mention here.

Still Dave, somebody made you very angry? :o

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