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Tax-Evading Cigarettes Worth 33M Baht Seized in Truck

Tax-Evading Cigarettes Worth 33M Baht Seized in Truck

Khaosod•Society•2h ago

Reader Briefing

Authorities in Phatthalung seized a large shipment of untaxed cigarettes, valued at almost 33 million baht, hidden within a trailer truck.

  • •A large quantity of untaxed cigarettes (5,250 cartons) was seized from a trailer truck in Phatthalung.
  • •The value of the seized contraband is estimated at nearly 33 million baht.
  • •The driver, claimed to be unaware of the cargo's nature, was arrested.
  • •The seizure occurred on June 3, 2026, following a tip-off from a concerned citizen.

Overview

  • •Police and affiliated agencies intercepted a trailer truck with suspicious cargo, identified by license plates 74-5784 (truck head) and 73-888857 (trailer), both registered in Samut Prakan.
  • •On June 3, 2026, officers established a checkpoint on the Asian Highway heading north from Phatthalung to Nakhon Si Thammarat, leading to the interception.
  • •The seizure consisted of 5,250 cartons of foreign cigarettes, totaling 52,500 packs or 1,050,000 individual cigarettes, with an estimated state revenue loss of 32,970,000 baht.
  • •Authorities arrested the driver, Nueaglao Joom-on, a resident of Mae Fah Luang District, Chiang Rai Province, for possessing and intending to sell untaxed goods.
  • •Nueaglao Joom-on denied all charges, stating he was merely a driver for Top 71 Transport Company, earning 10,000 baht per month plus 2,400 baht per trip.
  • •Nueaglao Joom-on further stated that on June 2, 2026, he was instructed by the company to load goods at a distribution center in Ban Phru, Hat Yai, Songkhla, between 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM, for delivery to Samut Prakan.
  • •Nueaglao Joom-on claimed he was sleeping in the truck while the goods were being loaded and had no knowledge that the cargo consisted of untaxed cigarettes.
  • •The case is being processed by investigators at the Mueang Phatthalung Police Station under Articles 203 (possession of untaxed goods) and 204 (possession for sale of untaxed goods, aiding concealment, sale, transport, purchase, pawning, or receiving) of the law.

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Key Quotes

เหนือเกล้า จุมออน (Nueaglao Joom-on)
"I am just a driver for Top 71 Transport Company, earning 10,000 baht salary per month plus 2,400 baht per trip. On June 2, 2026, the company instructed me to pick up goods at the distribution center in Ban Phru, Hat Yai, Songkhla."
ตนเป็นเพียงพนักงานขับรถ ของบริษัท ท๊อป ๗๑ ทรานสปอร์ต โดยได้เงินเดือนเดือนละ 10,000 บาท และได้ค่าวิ่งเที่ยวเที่ยวละ 2,400 บาท เท่านั้น และเมื่อวันที่ 2 มิ.ย. 69 ทางบริษัทได้แจ้งให้ตนไปขึ้นสินสินค้าที่ศูนย์กระจายสินค้าที่ ต.บ้านพรุ อ.หาดใหญ่ จ.สงขลา
เหนือเกล้า จุมออน (Nueaglao Joom-on)
"I did not know that the goods being loaded were tax-evading cigarettes."
ผมไม่ทราบว่า สินค้าที่นำขึ้นนั้นเป็นบุหรี่หนีภาษี

Key Entities

Law

Tax-evading cigarettes(บุหรี่หนีภาษี)
Illegal contraband of untaxed foreign cigarettes implicated in a large seizure.
Article 203(มาตรา 203)
The legal provision under which possessing untaxed goods is an offense.
Article 204(มาตรา 204)
The legal provision covering offenses related to possessing untaxed goods for sale, and aiding in their concealment or distribution.

Place

Phatthalung(พัทลุง)ℹ️
The province where the large haul of tax-evading cigarettes was intercepted.
Samut Prakan(สมุทรปราการ)ℹ️
Province where the seized trailer truck was registered and the intended destination of the cargo.
Mae Fah Luang Subdistrict, Mae Fah Luang District, Chiang Rai Province(ต.แม่ฟ้าหลวง อ.แม่ฟ้าหลวง จ.เชียงราย)
The place of residence of the arrested truck driver, Nueaglao Joom-on.
Ban Phru, Hat Yai, Songkhla(ต.บ้านพรุ อ.หาดใหญ่ จ.สงขลา)
The location of the distribution center where the driver loaded the controversial cargo.
Samut Prakan Province(จ.สมุทรปราการ)ℹ️
The final destination for the cargo of tax-evading cigarettes.

Organization

Trailer truck(รถบรรทุกเทเลอร์)
The vehicle used to transport the seized untaxed cigarettes.
Special Branch Unit 6, Border Patrol Police Division(กก.6 บก.ปทส.)
Police unit involved in the seizure of tax-evading cigarettes in Phatthalung.
Border Patrol Unit 434, Phatthalung(ตชด.434 พัทลุง)
Border patrol unit that supported the operation to intercept tax-evading cigarettes.
Civil Administration Officials(ฝ่ายปกครอง)
Civil officials who collaborated with law enforcement in the operation to intercept untaxed cigarettes.
Mueang Phatthalung Police Station(สภ.เมืองพัทลุง)
The police station where the case regarding the seizure of tax-evading cigarettes will be investigated.
Top 71 Transport Company(บริษัท ท๊อป ๗๑ ทรานสปอร์ต)
The company that employed the driver arrested for transporting tax-evading cigarettes.

Person

Pol. Lt. Col. Teerakrit Kaewkhao(ร.ต.อ.ธีรัชกฤติ แก้วขาว)
Deputy Inspector of Special Branch Unit 6, Border Patrol Police Division, involved in the interception of tax-evading cigarettes.
Pol. Sub. Lt. Chusak Chutong(ร.ต.ท.ชูศักดิ์ ชูทอง)
Head of the Special Task Force of Border Patrol Unit 434, Phatthalung, participating in the interception of illegal goods.
Mr. Nueaglao Joom-on(นายเหนือเกล้า จุมออน)
The driver of the trailer truck arrested for allegedly transporting a large quantity of tax-evading cigarettes.