Excise officers intercept smuggled cigarettes and beer in Chon Buri

Excise Officers at Region 2, along with Phanat Nikhom police intercepted a white pickup truck suspected of smuggling cigarettes and beer into Phanat Nikhom, Chon Bur, at noon on June 14,. The police had been investigating reports of contraband transportation in the area and successfully tracked down the vehicle, which was owned by a private company.

Upon inspection, officers seized over 1,000 cartons of various brands of smuggled cigarettes and more than 50 boxes of beer. The truck driver and three passengers claimed they had been hired to transport the parcels from Chachoengsao to Phanat Nikhom, unaware that the goods were smuggled.

Initial investigations revealed that the contraband originated from a neighbouring country and was smuggled through Aranyaprathet, Sa Kaeo. Police are now working to identify and apprehend all individuals involved in the smuggling operation to ensure they are held accountable for their crimes, reported The Pattaya News.

Further investigations will continue to uncover the full extent of the smuggling network.

In related news, the Thai authorities raided a warehouse in the Samut Prakan province, uncovering a large-scale smuggling operation involving over 100,000 items worth millions of baht. The raid, conducted by the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD), revealed that the goods were illegally imported and substandard.

Commander of the ECD, Police Major General Puttidej Boonkrapue, today directed Police Colonel Chatchawan Chuchaiyarin and Police Lieutenant Colonel Wanichaya Chaiprun to execute a search warrant at a warehouse located in Moo 5, Phraeksa Mai, Mueng District, Samut Prakan.

The operation stemmed from intelligence suggesting that the site was used to store and distribute illicitly imported goods through various online platforms.

The authorities seized a variety of items, including kitchen equipment, agricultural tools, pet toys, and miscellaneous household products.

The total haul exceeded 100,000 pieces, with an estimated value running into millions of baht. During the raid, a Thai woman was found guarding the warehouse.