Hundreds of supercars 'missing' - Thai customs

[bristolgeoff]

Maybe they all got underground garages with cars in it

[FangFerang]

The value of those cars is nearly ten times the money lost from the 20,000 ton Iranian GTG rice scam.......I wonder why there is no angry outcry for injustice....I mean justice.

Amazing Thailand

[BSJ]

My guess is some of the cars are already in other countries and many are still here. But don't overlook the angle that some maybe broken up for parts. Look at it this way, if you have a supercar bought on the black market, where do you go for spare parts and accident replacement parts? Somchai down the auto parts shop will have zero stock! And the authorised dealers may tell you to truck off!

[steelepulse]

Everyone sing along now. " Rollin, rollin, rolling down the river".

[Lupatria]

50% involved in illegal activities + 50% holding inactive posts = 100% Thailand.

[klauskunkel]

Two officials from the Customs Department have been moved to inactive positions

So, what's their ranks? Gotta be at least SrSgtMaj1stClassSubLt and up...

[pookiki]

A few years ago, I went with a friend to retrieve a package his father had sent to him from Italy. It was a birthday present and contained five bottles of red wine. His father had gone to a vineyard in Italy and was given the five bottles free of charge as a promotion.

We were at customs for over three hours as one official after another asked my friend what was the value of the wine. He replied each time that he didn't know, the wine was a birthday present, and the father received the wine as a promotion at a local vineyard. After much discussion, my friend was informed that he would have to pay 60,000 baht in duty fees! My friend walked away and left the wine at customs. The value placed on the wine was clearly extortionate and had the desired result.

Little wonder what other revenue making activities occur.

Edited September 6, 2014 by pookiki

[Patje]

Maybe they should check the bankaccount from the one at the " this way out " gate

Edited September 6, 2014 by Patje

[retell]

A few years ago, I went with a friend to retrieve a package his father had sent to him from Italy. It was a birthday present and contained five bottles of red wine. His father had gone to a vineyard in Italy and was given the five bottles free of charge as a promotion.

We were at customs for over three hours as one official after another asked my friend what was the value of the wine. He replied each time that he didn't know, the wine was a birthday present, and the father received the wine as a promotion at a local vineyard. After much discussion, my friend was informed that he would have to pay 60,000 baht in duty fees! My friend walked away and left the wine at customs. The value placed on the wine was clearly extortionate and had the desired result.

Little wonder what other revenue making activities occur.

About 9 years ago my 20 ft container with stuff from home like furniture tools etc was held at customs , they could not open the lock to look inside ( dutch style mountainbike lock ) they tried with crowbars and hamers

We went to clear it with customs but forgot the key , end result , paid 20.000 and all was fine .

[rakman]

" Customs officials are scratching their heads and trying to figure out what happened to hundreds of high-end cars that just disappeared."

"missing"?

Beam me (and my car) up, Scotty!

[rakman]

_{Guess an 'Ole Georgia/Texas" boy would suggest the Police stop and check the papers on all the Super Cars Speeding around town and highways.}

_{Really there is no need for such cars in this country any way, too dangerous in the wrong hands !!}

_{By the way, Where is the Red Bull Twerp that killed the policman in BKK ???}

The police would need to get a Lambo cruiser to catch them.

or wait until:

[rotary]

There is a condo just outside Bkk with a new Lotus that has been parked in the underground parking in the same spot for around a year. It just collects dust, I wonder................

[NiwPix]

Well, I saw one of the 500 missing cars here in Ubon Ratchathani ( Isaan ) the other day.

I remember thinking: hmmm, that actually looks like a Rolls Royce Phantom.

2 seconds later: holy sh*t, it is!

It was white with red license plates.

[retell]

Well, I saw one of the 500 missing cars here in Ubon Ratchathani ( Isaan ) the other day.

I remember thinking: hmmm, that actually looks like a Rolls Royce Phantom.

2 seconds later: holy sh*t, it is!

It was white with red license plates.

Have a look what crosses the border into laos in mukdahan will make that RR look like a volvo

[gyrosman]

I think they would be easy to spot in a village when a 16year old is driving it to the local 7-11.

[wabothai]

It is imposssible to loose 500 expensive cars.

let's check the story first.

[Artisi]

Well, I saw one of the 500 missing cars here in Ubon Ratchathani ( Isaan ) the other day.

I remember thinking: hmmm, that actually looks like a Rolls Royce Phantom.

2 seconds later: holy sh*t, it is!

It was white with red license plates.

was it pink?

[NativeSon360]

I was about to say this is unbelievable BUT TIT !

Now for accountability / responsibility or maybe the lack of. What chance this will be in the headlines for a couple of days then, like so many other big cases, simply disappear from the radar ?

Welcome to the real world of money=political collusion (corruption). Thailand is a corruption kindergarten, compared to the western world. So, kindly get-off the case of my beloved Land of 1000 Smiles, K?

Edited September 6, 2014 by NativeSon360

[Strangebrew]

Yep some of them customs agents are shady characters to say the least. I do have anything to do with them. One was my next door neighbor Guy had a 20,000.00 USD rolex. Told me was fake right , I know fake from real use to own one and sold a couple in my day.

[iReason]

"So warehouse owners would be held responsible for the missing vehicles, he said."

Ya think?

[khunjamesjohnson]

I had a friend that wanted to built a storage center but his attorney warned him HE would be responsible if a customer had something illegal on the premises.

[Globeman]

Now there's a surprise... Saying that 200 percent tax ?? A bit steep...

Yeah and that's even less than the real number....for a super car the number is actually about 328% I have never seen a super car with less than 220horsepowers

They are often "detuned" to 219hp at the dealer... then you take it to Somchai, who connects the laptop, remaps the engine computer and bammo, back to 450hp in five minutes. The police don't carry a dynamometer with them...

[tigermoth]

Total incompetancy and stupidity by the Authorities. First 200% tax is ridiculous and second allowing removal of any goods from the warehouses for any purpose until the tax is paid. What other goods are treated this way, perhaps those fake watches aren't fake!!

[tomyummer]

The problem is that it is the customs officials that strike deals with importers to allow cars out of the bonded zones before the cars are sold. Can't blame the importers as it is a huge sunk cost to pay taxes on the stock before they are sold.

[tomyummer]

Used to live near a low paid customs official named' mr big' he owned four condos and several hi end cars, jeeps and 4x4's Not bad for somebody on his money!

Customs is the top government department that all aspiring governement employees want to work at.

[apalink_thailand]

Interestingly, I recall when Taksin first took office, he replaced the head of the Customs Dept and the Revenue Department and suddenly the coffers were filled. I suppose they were later emptied but I do recall at the time we all gave him a big thumbs up for this momentous effort. The cycle renews I suppose.

[manhood]

How all that can happen without the help and involement of customs department employess! And the fish always stink from the head!

Just easy!

[phanangpete]

Will anyone , i have to ask again, do time, they have broke the law , evidence is there, whats up with this Countries legal system !

If they don't deal with it in a proper legal manner, postpone joining ASEAN , as you will be made to look like fools.

[loongdavid]

As an aside to the current topic, I regularly purchase books from various o'seas countries. Most get through without any duty or fuss however, recently it has become more and more the norm. I have regularly checked with the PO in the consignor country and even had a tracking number (for what good that is), still nothing. Between Thai Customs and Thai Post Office they have a lot of explaining to do.

[media]

More criminal activity by authorities.

"Customs staff face probe"

What a <deleted> JOKE! should be massive hard hitting investigation with arrests, not just a little "probe"