Two women detained at Nong Khai with millions in Thai banknotes
Two women from North Thailand were detained at Nong Khai checkpoint after attempting to bring millions of baht into the country. They confessed to being hired and were unsure of the destination province.
The money was seized yesterday, March 2, at the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge checkpoint in Mueang Nong Khai district. The operation was part of a crackdown led by Theerachai Attanavanich, Director General of the Customs Department, and Kitchalak Sreenuchsart, an advisor on customs benefits development, to enforce customs and related laws.
Wannapa Phuotsah, the Nong Khai customs director, instructed Somchint Jitsamnuang, director of Customs Service 1, and Patthanapong Tantiwattanakulchai, head of Customs Service 1, along with other customs officials, to apprehend 27 year old Suphanuch and 39 year old Sasipha at the border checkpoint.
Both women, from Chiang Kham district, Phayao province, and Phaya Mengrai district, Chiang Rai province, were caught bringing Thai banknotes into the country in their suitcases.
Around 3.30pm, while officials were on routine duty at the border checkpoint, Suphanuch and Sasipha entered Thailand on an international bus from Vientiane to Nong Khai. During border procedures, customs officials noticed large suitcases that were subsequently scanned by X-ray.
Suspicious objects appeared in the X-ray, prompting a thorough inspection of the luggage. In Suphanuch’s suitcase, officials found 2,100 1,000-baht banknotes, totaling 2,100,000 baht (US$61,260).
Sasipha’s suitcase contained 1,500 1,000-baht banknotes, totalling 1,500,000 baht (US$43,760). Both women were taken into custody.
Upon investigation, they admitted to being hired by a Hmong to collect the suitcases in a neighbouring country and return them to North Thailand, with the specific destination to be communicated later. They claimed it was their first time engaging in such activities and were unaware it was illegal, reported KhaoSod.
Both women expressed a willingness to comply with proper procedures. The case was halted at the customs level, with the money being confiscated for the state and fines amounting to 150,000 baht and 420,000 baht imposed as determined by the Customs Department.
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