Customs Sells Smuggled Cars Worth Bt766 Million

[george]

Customs earns Bt766 million through auctions of smuggle cars

BANGKOK: -- The Customs Department has so far this year generated Bt766 million through the six auctions of smuggled vehicles.

Soiphet Suwanchaiyote, director of the seized property bureau, said that the figures showed an improvement from Bt700 million that the department raised last year.

"From now on, we're holding auctions twice a month, with 100-200 vehicles put on sale in each auction," she said. The auctions are handled by Katha Communication Co Ltd which has handled the auctions of several state agencies including the Land Transport Department's license plate auctions.

Most of the vehicles are located in Bangkok.

The Customs Department Wednesday put on auction a number of 203 vehicles with the median price of Bt180 million. Ninety per cent of the vehicles are models which are not manufactured or distributed in Thailand. The rest are those used in transporting illegal products and those declaring false tariffs. Seventy per cent of them are European cars while the rest is Japanese.

"Through the auctions, we want to create fairness to all who are interested in the vehicles, where they can bid fairly," said Director-General Sathit Limpongpun. He hopes that public interest should allow the department to achieve its target in boosting the sale price by at least 10 per cent from the median price.

The price tags of those vehicles available yesterday started from less than Bt200,000 to Bt9.59 million, which belongs to 2door Ferrari 288 GTO.

First put on auction was Mercedes Benz S-Class. From the start price of Bt2.39 million, huge interest from participants drove the price up to Bt3.6 million or a 51 per cent increase.

--The Nation 2005-10-26

[Rooo]

Anyone know how to get in contact with Katha?I have tried searching the web for car auctions in Thailand but no success.

[trt]

Anyone know how to get in contact with Katha?I have tried searching the web for car auctions in Thailand but no success.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Try looking under the thai customs web site ..

if not then go to the customs department in Klong Toey and visit the seized property bureau... its at the back of the Customs department near the multi story car park (that's where they keep all the cars).

[Rooo]

Thank you TRT.

[taxexile]

i went to one of these auctions a few years ago , it was widely advertised in the thai press and was held at the queen sirikit convention centre next to the tobacco monopoly factory.

there were some wonderful cars there , ferraris , lambos , mercs , jags , a couple of big bentley continentals and some older classic supercars.

the hall was crawling with thai "arthur daley" types (dyed hair , big gold jewellery , rayban aviators , chain smoking , two or three mobiles clipped to their belts and with women very obviously not their wives.....for a minute if you closed your eyes you could have been at walthamstow dog track) and what looked like very wealthy thais looking to buy some bargains.

[Jai Dee]

This article was posted by ThaiSnewS.com nearly a week ago... my apologies to all for not alerting the Forum. If I'd known there would be some interest I would have let you all know.

CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT IS ARRANGING AUCTION FOR 200 CARS

The Customs Department, in collaboration with Khata Communication Co. Ltd., is to arrange a car auction for 200 cars. Registration will start on October 24-26, between the times of 9 am and 4.30 pm, at the Customs Department. The cars can be inspected between October 24-25 during working hours. More details can be found at www.customs.go.th or 02-249-3668.

Source: thaisnews.com ประจำวันศุกร์ที่ 21 ตุลาคม 2548

[chuchok]

More info on the thieving Customs Department here....

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=48780&hl=

[Thetyim]

Anyone know how to get in contact with Katha?I have tried searching the web for car auctions in Thailand but no success.

Here is the link, with all the car details and pictures

http://www.biddingonandoffline.com/custom/

I find it very strange that this link is not posted in the customs website.