Chonburi —
At 12:00 PM on June 14th, 2024, Excise Officers Region 2, Phanat Nikhom police, and relevant agencies intercepted a white pickup truck suspected of smuggling cigarettes and beer into Phanat Nikhom, Chonburi.
According to the police, excise officers had been investigating reports of contraband being transported into the area and successfully tracked down the vehicle, which belonged to a private company.
Upon inspection, the officers seized over 1,000 cartons of various brands of smuggled cigarettes and more than 50 boxes of beer. The truck driver and three passengers claimed they had been hired to transport the parcels from Chachoengsao to Phanat Nikhom, unaware that the goods were smuggled.
Initial investigations revealed that the contraband originated from a neighboring country and were smuggled through Aranyaprathet, Sa Kaeo. Authorities are now working to identify and apprehend all individuals involved in the smuggling operation to ensure they are held accountable for their crimes.
The swift action by excise officers and police not only prevented a significant quantity of illegal goods from entering the market but also highlighted the ongoing efforts to combat smuggling in the region.
Further investigations will continue to uncover the full extent of the smuggling network.
