Royal Thai Navy Seizes Huge Cache of Smuggled Cigarettes

The Royal Thai Navy has seized contraband cigarettes from a fishing boat docked at a pier in Singha Nakhon district in Southern Thailand on Wednesday.

The smuggled cigarettes worth about 20 million baht were seized from a fishing boat docked at a pier in Singha Nakhon district, and six persons were arrested.

The P Rungroj Wattana, a modified fishing boat, was searched at the boat pier in Tambon Hua Khao, according to Adm Sunthorn Khamklai.

Approximately 20 million baht worth of cigarettes were found in 694 boxes.

During an inspection of the boat, officials discovered cigarettes had been smuggled into Thailand.

Read: Central Investigation Bureau Seizes e-Cigarettes Worth US$350,000

According to Vice Adm Sunthorn, six suspected smugglers were arrested. Thus far this year it has been the largest seizure of contraband foreign cigarettes.

Investigators were working to track down those responsible for the smuggling operation. Several departments, including Excise and Customs, worked together to seize the goods, he said.

Meanwhile, Thailand’s new two-tier tax system, approved by the cabinet this week, took effect on October 1st.

Currently, packs with a retail price of up to 72 baht are subject to a 25% tax. Packs priced higher than 72 baht are subject to a 42% tax.

In addition, cigarette packs are subject to an additional tax of 1.25 baht regardless of the retail price. One pack has a tax of 25 baht, given that each pack contains 20 cigarettes.