According to a recent report by Asean Now, Thai customs authorities recently announced the seizure of a batch of illegal goods, including e-cigarettes, nitrous oxide ("laughing gas"), and automatic coin exchange machines. The total estimated value of these goods exceeds 30 million Thai Baht (USD 880,000).
The Bangkok Port Customs Office in Thailand discovered undisclosed goods in two containers from foreign countries during inspections on December 17th and 19th. The goods included:
Disposable e-cigarettes: 112,600 units, worth 28.15 million Thai baht ($820,000). According to a 2014 directive from the Ministry of Commerce, the import of hookah and e-cigarettes is prohibited; Nitrous oxide ("laughing gas"): 770 canisters, each weighing 5 kilograms, worth 19.25 million Thai baht ($56,000). Importing nitrous oxide requires approval from the FDA under the 1967 Drug Act; Automatic coin exchange machines: 18 units, worth 360,000 Thai baht ($10,000).
The importation of these goods violated articles 202, 243, 244, and 252 of the 2017 Customs Law, the 1967 Drug Law, and the 1979 Import and Export Law. Those found in violation face prosecution for providing false or incomplete information in order to evade taxes and restrictions.
The customs department announced that it has recorded 103 cases of e-cigarette smuggling involving 416,560 items worth 39.07 million Thai baht (1.14 million USD) between October 1 and December 23, 2023.
Recently, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) in Thailand, in coordination with customs, seized nearly 50,000 illegal e-cigarettes at Laem Chabang Port, with a value exceeding 300,000 US dollars. Photos provided by the DSI show that the packaging of these products is suspected to be related to brands such as esko bar, spaceman, and salthub.
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