Customs Seizes 21M Tax-Evading Items Worth 102M Baht

MGR Online•Society•1d ago

Reader Briefing

Thai Customs Region 1 reports a successful six-month operation, seizing over 400 cases of smuggled and tax-evading goods valued at more than 102 million Baht, with a particular concern over the changing methods of importing e-cigarettes.

•Customs Region 1 apprehended over 400 cases of smuggled and tax-evading goods in six months.
•Confiscated items include agricultural products, consumer goods, fuel, cigarettes, and e-cigarettes, totaling 21 million pieces and valued at over 102 million Baht.
•Smugglers are increasingly using parcel and private courier services to evade detection, especially for e-cigarettes.
•Cooperation with Thailand Post and private transport companies is underway to screen suspicious packages.
•Officials warn the public about the health risks associated with uninspected, smuggled goods.

Overview

•In the first 6 months of the fiscal year 2026, Customs Region 1 conducted operations.
•Customs Region 1 apprehended over 400 cases of smuggled and tax-evading goods.
•Over 21 million items were confiscated, with a value exceeding 102 million Baht.
•The operations cover 8 customs posts across 19 provinces in Central, Western, and Eastern Thailand.
•Smugglers have shifted to using parcel services and private couriers for transporting illicit goods, particularly e-cigarettes.
•Customs officials are collaborating with Thailand Post and private transport companies to screen suspicious packages.
•Customs officials warn that smuggled goods do not undergo safety checks by agencies like the FDA or TISI, posing health risks.
•Customs officials are urged to maintain vigilance and develop new inspection methods due to evolving smuggling techniques.

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Key Quotes

Yutthana Phoolphipat

"If it is a product that has been inspected by government agencies, the public can be assured that the product is standard and safe. But if it is smuggled or tax-evading, its safety for health cannot be guaranteed."

หากเป็นสินค้าที่ผ่านการตรวจสอบจากหน่วยงานภาครัฐ ประชาชนจะมั่นใจได้ว่าสินค้ามีมาตรฐานและปลอดภัย แต่หากเป็นสินค้าลักลอบหรือหลีกเลี่ยงภาษี ก็ไม่สามารถการันตีได้ว่าจะปลอดภัยต่อสุขภาพ

Key Entities

Organization

Customs Region 1(ศุลกากรภาค 1)

The regional office of the Thai Customs Department responsible for operations in 19 provinces.

The Customs Department(กรมศุลกากร)

The government agency responsible for customs and excise in Thailand, whose deputy director is quoted in the article.

Thailand Post Company Limited(บริษัท ไปรษณีย์ไทย จำกัด)

The national postal service with which customs officials are collaborating to screen suspicious packages.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)(สำนักงานคณะกรรมการอาหารและยา (อย.))

A regulatory body whose inspections are bypassed by smuggled goods, posing a risk to public health.

Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI)(สำนักงานมาตรฐานผลิตภัณฑ์อุตสาหกรรม (สมอ.))

A regulatory body whose inspections are bypassed by smuggled goods, raising concerns about product safety.

Person

Yutthana Phoolphipat(นายยุทธนา พูลพิพัฒน์)

Deputy Director-General of the Customs Department who announced the results of the anti-smuggling operations.

Nipawan Yaibua-thes(นางนิภาวรรณ ใยบัวเทศ)

Director of Customs Region 1, who attended the press conference.

Panthong Loykoolnan(นายพันธ์ทอง ลอยกุลนันท์)

Director-General of the Customs Department, whose policy is being implemented by Customs Region 1.