Prachuap Khiri Khan Customs Seizes Illegal Cigarettes

MGR Online•Politics•5d ago

Reader Briefing

Prachuap Khiri Khan Customs and security agencies seized illegal cigarettes and other contraband worth over 39 million Baht between September 1 and October 16, 2026.

•The Phithak Khiri Khan Operation was launched on September 1, 2026, to block illegal goods from the south entering Bangkok.
•On October 16, 2026, officials seized various illegal items including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and foreign liquor at Huai Yang checkpoint.
•From September 1 to October 16, 2026, 19 cases were prosecuted with total seized goods and taxes valued at 39,937,507.60 Baht.
•Thitiphong Khamphui revealed that smugglers have shifted to using private express delivery services to distribute goods in small quantities.

Overview

•Prachuap Khiri Khan Customs integrated with security agencies to launch the Phithak Khiri Khan Operation on September 1, 2026.
•On October 16, 2026, officials seized foreign cigarettes, e-cigarettes, dates, tea, and other goods with a total value and tax of 2,221,896 Baht.
•Total seizures during the operation from September 1 to October 16, 2026, included foreign cigarettes worth 39,438,713 Baht and e-cigarettes worth 260,357.40 Baht.
•Thitiphong Khamphui stated that smugglers are using a 'fast delivery war' tactic, splitting goods into small parcels via private couriers using fake names to avoid detection.
•The smuggling of illegal cigarettes and liquor causes the state to lose tens of billions of Baht in customs, excise, and VAT revenue annually.
•Illegal e-cigarettes and cigarettes pose health risks due to contamination of heavy metals and carcinogens and are easily accessible to youth via delivery systems.
•The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is currently expanding the investigation into the illegal cigarette network and issuing summons to courier companies and senders.
•Security agencies in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province will continue to monitor land, rail, and logistics routes to block illegal goods.

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Key Entities

Person

Ekniti Nitithanprapas(เอกนิติ นิติทัณฑ์ประภาศ)ℹ️

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.

Phanthong Loykulnan(พันธ์ทอง ลอยกุลนันท์)

Director General of the Customs Department.

Kitchalak Srinuchasat(กิจจาลักษณ์ ศรีนุชศาสตร์)

Advisor on Customs Privilege System Development.

Niphawan Yaibuathet(นิภาวรรณ ใยบัวเทศ)

Director of Regional Customs Office 1.

Thitiphong Khamphui(ฐิติพงศ์ คำผุย)

Chief of Prachuap Khiri Khan Customs House.

Chawaphon Sinphunpak(ชวภณ สินพูนภักดิ์)

Director of the Special Case Operation Center, Area 7, Department of Special Investigation.

Witthaya Promyotha(วิทยา พรมโยธา)

Excise Officer of Prachuap Khiri Khan area.

Akkarawan Sidthanabunubon(อัคราวัน สีห์ธนบุญอุบล)

Superintendent of Border Patrol Police Subdivision 14.

Saroj Suksiri(สโรจ สุขศิริ)

Deputy Commander of the Chong Ang Suek Special Task Force (R.9).

Chaichan Munmak(ชัยชาญ มูลมาก)

Prachuap Khiri Khan Provincial Prevention and Suppression Officer.

Woraphong Rangphueng(วรพงษ์ รังผึ้ง)

Head of Prachuap Khiri Khan Animal Quarantine Station.

Organization

Customs Department(กรมศุลกากร)

Government agency responsible for protecting the economy from illegal goods.

Ministry of Finance(กระทรวงการคลัง)ℹ️

Ministry overseeing customs and finance policies.

Department of Special Investigation(กรมสอบสวนคดีพิเศษ)ℹ️

Agency currently expanding investigations into illegal cigarette networks.

DSI

Abbreviation for the Department of Special Investigation.

Border Patrol Police Subdivision 14(กองกำกับการตำรวจตระเวนชายแดนที่ 14)

Security agency participating in the Phithak Khiri Khan Operation.

Chong Ang Suek Special Task Force(หน่วยเฉพาะกิจจงอางศึก)

Military unit involved in the security operation.

Tobacco Authority of Thailand(การยาสูบแห่งประเทศไทย)ℹ️

Entity suffering damage from illegal tax-evaded cigarettes.

Place

Prachuap Khiri Khan(ประจวบคีรีขันธ์)ℹ️

The province where the operation was conducted.

Phet Kasem Road(ถนนเพชรเกษม)ℹ️

The strategic route where goods were intercepted.

Huai Yang Checkpoint(ด่านตรวจห้วยยาง)

The specific location in Thap Sakae District where seizures occurred on October 16, 2026.

Law

Customs Act 2017(พระราชบัญญัติศุลกากร พ.ศ. 2560)

The law under which the illegal imports were prosecuted.

Excise Tax Act 2017(พระราชบัญญัติภาษีสรรพสามิต พ.ศ. 2560)

The law under which the tax-evaded goods were prosecuted.

Policy

Social Protectionℹ️

Policy of the Ministry of Finance and Customs Department to protect society from illegal goods.