Phuket –
Phuket Airport Customs officers have seized more than 9.5 million foreign cigarettes found to be in violation of trademark laws, marking one of the largest such busts in recent years.
Phuket Airport Customs officers told the Phuket Express that the operation, conducted recently, aligns with the Thai Customs Department’s intensified enforcement policy aimed at curbing illegal goods and protecting intellectual property rights. Officers intercepted the contraband during a routine inspection of transit cargo at Phuket International Airport, uncovering a total of 9,568,000 cigarettes bearing counterfeit branding.
Authorities estimate the economic damage from the seizure at over 71 billion baht, showing the scale and severity of the violation. Officials stated that such counterfeit goods not only undermine legitimate businesses but also pose broader risks to the national economy and public welfare.
Phuket Airport Customs has reaffirmed its commitment to rigorous enforcement, pledging continued vigilance in detecting and dismantling smuggling networks. The agency stated that it will maintain strict oversight in line with national policy to safeguard society from unlawful trade and intellectual property infringement.
