Ranong Run Duty Free Warning

[Ivana Humpalot]

Apparently customs are now stopping some Ranong run buses on their way back to Phuket and checking duty free levels (1 litre spirits and 200 fags each I think). Fines are hefty (7,000 baht per litre over). My reliable source (a bloke I met in a bar) tells me that the boat man is tipping off customs for a share of the fines when he sees farangs loading up over the limits. Customs search the bus and any unclaimed booze and fags rolling around the bus are "allocated" to whichever farang the customs officer likes least. Just another nail in the party coffin.