Audit Offices Probe Customs Dept. on 2 Projects Worth 4.3 Billion Baht

Thansettakij•Economy•12d ago

Reader Briefing

Three state anti-corruption agencies are scrutinizing two major projects at the Customs Department totaling over 4.3 billion baht.

•The Office of the Auditor General (OAG), the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), and the Office of the Thailand Anti-Corruption Commission (P.P.T.) are reviewing two large investment projects at the Customs Department.
•The projects involve a CCTV system rental and the procurement of new X-ray scanners to replace aging equipment, with a combined value exceeding 4.3 billion baht.
•The review aims to ensure transparency and prevent corruption in these significant government contracts and procurement processes, with a focus on preventive measures.

Overview

•Three anti-corruption agencies (OAG, NACC, PPT) visited the Customs Department.
•The visit was to follow up and monitor corruption in two large investment projects.
•The total value of the two projects is over 4,349 million baht.
•The old X-ray machines at Laem Chabang Port have been in use for 18 years and have no spare parts.
•The CCTV system rental project has a budget commitment from 2026-2031, totaling 1,449,211,100 baht.
•The CCTV contract was signed on March 25, 2026.
•The CCTV project is in phase 1 (270 days for installation and testing), with full service expected in January 2027.
•The X-ray scanner procurement project has a total budget of 2,900 million baht for 4 machines.
•The X-ray scanner project is in the process of re-tendering after the first round had bidders failing to meet conditions.
•Customs Department Director-General Panthong Loykullanan stated that technology will reduce discretion and opportunities for illicit gains.
•The Customs Department acknowledges delays in signing the X-ray contract due to the high budget of 2,900 million baht.
•The NACC provided recommendations for the TOR drafting to strengthen the process and prevent future problems.

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Source: Thansettakij (Original)

Key Quotes

Panthong Loykullanan

"X-ray machines don't deceive us. Using technology will reduce discretion and officer-operator interactions, thereby reducing opportunities for illicit gains and clearly enhancing governance."

เครื่องเอกซเรย์ไม่หลอกเรา การใช้เทคโนโลยีจะช่วยลดการใช้ดุลพินิจและการพบปะระหว่างเจ้าหน้าที่กับผู้ประกอบการ ซึ่งช่วยลดช่องว่างในการเรียกรับผลประโยชน์และเพิ่มธรรมาภิบาลอย่างชัดเจน

Panthong Loykullanan

"Today marks a new dimension where we discuss from the beginning of the TOR process, giving us confidence that the outcome will be internationally recognized quality, preventing errors after project completion."

วันนี้ถือเป็นมิติใหม่ที่เรามาคุยกันตั้งแต่ต้นทางในกระบวนการทำ TOR ทำให้เรามั่นใจว่าผลลัพธ์ที่ได้จะเป็นของดีที่สากลยอมรับ และเป็นการป้องกันไม่ให้เกิดความผิดพลาดเมื่อโครงการเสร็จสิ้นไปแล้ว

Ladda Deansawang

"Today we come in a collaborative, preventive approach rather than just investigating. Customs is genuinely committed to transparency, and the NACC has provided advice to draft robust TOR to prevent future issues."

วันนี้มาในลักษณะของการร่วมมือกันเพื่อป้องกันมากกว่าการจ้องจับผิด (Preventive approach) กรมศุลกากรมีความตั้งใจจริงที่จะทำให้เกิดความโปร่งใส ซึ่ง ป.ป.ช. ได้ให้คำแนะนำในการร่าง TOR ให้รัดกุมเพื่อเป็นเกราะป้องกันปัญหาในอนาคต

Key Entities

Organization

Office of the Auditor General(สตง.)

A state agency conducting audits and financial inspections, represented in this article by its Governor.

National Anti-Corruption Commission(ป.ป.ช.)ℹ️

A Thai anti-corruption agency providing guidance and preventative measures on government projects.

Office of the Thailand Anti-Corruption Commission(ป.ป.ท.)

A Thai anti-corruption agency involved in the oversight and prevention of corruption.

Customs Department(กรมศุลกากร)ℹ️

The Thai government agency responsible for customs and excise, currently under scrutiny for two major projects.

Sky High & Yip In Tsoi Joint Venture(กิจการค้าร่วมสกายไฮ และยิบอินซอย)

The joint venture company that signed the contract for the CCTV system rental project.

Person

Montien Charoenphol(นายมณเฑียร เจริญผล)

Governor of the Office of the Auditor General, representing the agency in the inspection of Customs Department projects.

Panthong Loykullanan(นายพันธ์ทอง ลอยกุลนันท์)

Director-General of the Customs Department, providing explanations and assurances regarding ongoing projects.

Ladda Deansawang(นางสาวลัดดา เดือนสว่าง)

Director of the Bureau of Preventive Measures against Corruption at the NACC, representing the agency's preventive approach.

Place

Laem Chabang Port(ท่าเรือแหลมฉบัง)ℹ️

A major port in Thailand where the Customs Department operates and where the aging X-ray machines are located.

Chiang Khong(เชียงของ)ℹ️

A location in Thailand where one of the new X-ray scanners is planned to be installed.

Mae Sot(แม่สอด)ℹ️

A location in Thailand where one of the new X-ray scanners is planned to be installed.

Law

2026

Fiscal year relevant to the budget commitment for the CCTV project.

2031

Fiscal year relevant to the budget commitment for the CCTV project.

2027

Year when the CCTV system is expected to be fully operational.