The Laem Chabang Customs in Chonburi has successfully intercepted over 1.4 tons of cannabis, which was cleverly concealed within export goods, including rubber flooring meant for fitness and fabric gloves, with the final destination indicated as the United Kingdom. The estimated value of the seized goods exceeds 25 million baht.
At 3:00 PM on September 25, 2024, Director Direk Kocharak of Laem Chabang Port Customs reported that in line with Prime Minister Phaetongthar Shinawatra’s policy to enhance measures against illegal imports and exports to protect society and maintain international trade image, Finance Ministry officials have mandated stricter enforcement from the Customs Department.
Customs Department Director General Teeratch Atthananwanit has instructed officials to monitor attempts to bypass customs controls rigorously, employing international cooperation, such as the Seaport Interdiction Task Force (SITF) and the UNODC-WCO Container Control Programme, among others.
Deputy Director Yutthana Poonsubphat has mandated all reporting agencies to implement strict measures against illegal goods in their areas of responsibility. Following a thorough analysis of suspicious export documents, Customs officials identified two suspicious shipments destined for the UK and proceeded to detain them for further inspection.
On September 11, 2024, authorities discovered 153.30 kilograms of cannabis, worth 5 million baht, hidden in altered wooden boxes during an inspection of a shipment claiming to contain fitness flooring.
Similarly, on September 16, 2024, another inspection of a shipment declared as fabric gloves revealed a total of 1.3 tons of various cannabis products worth 20 million baht.
This case involves misrepresentation of the type and amount of goods to evade restrictions, violating customs regulations outlined in numerous sections of the Customs Act and the Thai Herbal Medicine Protection Act.
Note that cannabis is classified as a controlled herb requiring permits for research, export, or trade, akin to the UK’s classification of cannabis as a Class B drug, which imposes heavy penalties for possession and trafficking.
This article was rewritten from a Thairath’s news article.
