3 ministers (Tawee - Jiraporn - Julapun) held joint press conference on DSI, Customs, and Royal Thai Police seizure of over 200,000 smuggled e-cigarettes, worth 33 million baht

published: 3/10/2025 4:28:45 PM updated: 3/12/2025 2:43:27 PM 332 views

3 ministers (Tawee - Jiraporn - Julapun) held joint press conference on DSI, Customs, and Royal Thai Police seizure of over 200,000 smuggled e-cigarettes, worth 33 million baht

Under the policy directive of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, all government agencies have been instructed to integrate efforts in cracking down on the illegal production, importation, and distribution of e-cigarettes. The goal is to curb the widespread use of all types of e-cigarettes and expedite enforcement actions within 30 days, while also strengthening preventive measures against smoking and e-cigarette use among children and youth.

On March 10, 2025, Police Colonel Tawee Sodsong, Minister of Justice; Ms. Jiraporn Sindhuprai, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office; and Mr. Julapun Amornvivat, Deputy Minister of Finance, accompanied by Police Major Yutthana Praedam, Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), and Police Lieutenant Colonel Anurak Rojnirankit, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation, along with Police General Prachuap Wongsuk, Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police; Police Lieutenant General Akkaradej Pimolsri, Assistant Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police; and Police Lieutenant General Yingyos Thepchamnong, Commissioner of Provincial Police Region 2, visited at Laem Chabang Port Customs Office. They were welcomed by Mr. Theeraj Athanavanich, Director-General of the Customs Department; Mr. Direk Khacharak, Deputy Director-General of the Customs Department; and Mr. Wuth Rengpadungtong, Director of Laem Chabang Port Customs Office. This field visit follows the case in which the Department of Special Investigation, in collaboration with the Customs Department and the Royal Thai Police, seized transit goods from container No. MRSU3507211, uncovered 210,300 items, including disposable e-cigarettes, e-liquid bottles, and pre-filled e-cigarette pods, valued at over 33 million baht. The contraband was confiscated as it violated the Customs Act, B.E. 2560 (2017), and was classified as prohibited goods under the Notification of the Ministry of Commerce Re: Goods Prohibited from Being Brought in Transit, B.E. 2559 (2016), in conjunction with the Notification of the Ministry of Commerce Regarding the Prohibition of Import of Baraku and Electronic Baraku or Electronic Cigarettes into the Kingdom, B.E. 2557 (2014), as well as Customs Department Notification No. 185/2564 Regarding the Electronic Transit Procedure, dated December 1, 2021, Section 6.

The confiscated goods will be assessed by the Customs Department before proceeding with legal action. Meanwhile, DSI will continue its investigation to identify the principals, instigators, and accessories involved in the smuggling operation. The enforcement will be carried out rigorously under applicable laws and special measures to ensure maximum effectiveness in suppressing and resolving the e-cigarette smuggling issue, delivering concrete and tangible results.