Phuket –
Two suspects were arrested at a shop in Phuket Town with 110 E-cigarettes and 4,000 boxes of illegal cigarettes.
A team from the Phuket City District Office inspected a small shop in the Talad Yai sub-district on Thursday (February 2nd). The inspection came after they received many complaints from concerned citizens that the shop was selling illegal items. A search warrant was issued for the shop by the Phuket Provincial Court.
At the front of the shop under a tarp officials found only cat food and drinking water. However, hidden deeper inside the shop were 110 E-cigarettes and 4,001 boxes of illegal cigarettes. A shop owner and a cashier were arrested, however, officials did not reveal their personal details to the press.
The two suspects were taken to the Phuket City Police Station to face charges of illegal possession of unpaid tax items, selling unpaid tax items, hiding unpaid tax items, and selling illegal E-cigarettes.
The Phuket Express noted that this is the same shop that was raided many times since last year before they reopened again and again. According to Phuket City District Office staff, the shop had just recently attempted to place cat food and water at the front of the venue to attempt to confuse authorities, but it didn’t work.
