Laem Chabang, Chonburi Province – On July 20th, 2026, Thai Customs, along with the Department of Foreign Trade, announced the seizure of goods falsely labeled as “Made in Thailand” that were actually imported from China. The operation is part of a crackdown on origin fraud targeted at exploiting trade privileges, with the specific cases valued at over 100 million baht.
A joint press conference was held at the Laem Chabang Customs Office, where authorities displayed seized items.
Mr. Panthong Loykulnanth, Director-General of the Customs Department, stated that the action follows government policy under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Dr. Ek-niti Nitithanpraphat, focusing on the prevention of illegal imports and exports, particularly the misuse of product origin claims to gain unfair trade benefits.
“Such practices distort international trade systems and damage the reputation of Thai exports,” Mr. Panthong said. The Customs Department partnered with the Department of Foreign Trade, led by Director-General Ms. Arada Pheungthong, to inspect goods in free zones and industrial estates (EAT/Free Zone) at Laem Chabang Port. The inspections targeted imports suspected of falsely claiming Thai origin for re-export.
Two key cases were disclosed:
– Cigarettes: 5,370,000 units of TWOMOON brand cigarettes imported from China under Free Zone privileges, but packaged with false “Made in Thailand” labels. Economic damage: approximately 17 million baht.
– Utility tools: 202,000 sets of semi-finished blades, multi-purpose knives, and related equipment imported from China under industrial estate benefits. The items were fully finished cutters ready for sale, falsely labeled “Made in Thailand.” Economic damage: approximately 82.7 million baht.
Authorities are proceeding with legal action under the Customs Act B.E. 2560, the Act on Prohibition of Goods with False Origin (B.E. 2001), and the Export and Import Act B.E. 2522.
Mr. Panthong explained that false origin labeling not only violates the law but also misleads trading partners, potentially helping evade foreign trade measures and harming Thailand’s global image. The department has strengthened enforcement, increased penalties for false declarations, suspended trade privileges in violations, and enhanced cooperation with the Department of Foreign Trade to disrupt such schemes.
Broader Enforcement Results at Laem Chabang
Over the past 10 months (October 2025 to July 10, 2026), Customs operations at Laem Chabang have resulted in 177 significant cases with a total economic value of 1,377.8 million baht. Key achievements include:
– False origin claims: 41 cases, seizing over 8.8 million items valued at 426.64 million baht.
– Hazardous waste imports (violating the Basel Convention): 88 cases, 5.66 million kilograms seized (valued at 204.56 million baht), with shipments returned to origin countries.
– Intellectual property infringements and counterfeit goods: 35 cases, 303,472 items seized, valued at 582.19 million baht.
– Cannabis smuggling in export shipments: 13 cases, 14,840 kilograms seized, valued at 148.40 million baht.
The department has intensified X-ray screening and risk management to detect concealed cannabis in general export cargo.
Mr. Panthong concluded that the Customs Department will continue close coordination with all relevant agencies to prevent origin fraud, illegal trade, and other violations. The goal is to safeguard Thai businesses, maintain Thailand’s international credibility, and align law enforcement with global standards.
