Phuket –
On October 15th, 2025, at approximately 11:30 AM, a special operations unit from the Phuket Provincial Administration, led by Mr. Akkara Suwattikun, Chief of Provincial Security, executed a coordinated raid on four retail locations in Rassada Subdistrict, Mueang Phuket District, suspected of selling untaxed cigarettes.
Armed with search warrants issued by the Phuket Provincial Court, the team—comprising of assistant security officers and members of the Territorial Defense Volunteer Corps—conducted simultaneous inspections across the targeted sites. The operation resulted in the arrest of five individuals and the confiscation of a substantial quantity of contraband.
Breakdown of the Raids:
- Location 1: Rental Unit on Ratsadanusorn Road
- Two female suspects apprehended
- Seized items:
-
- 170 packs of cigarettes
- 4,000 loose cigarettes
- ฿920 in cash
- Sales-related documents
- Location 2: House No. 65/9, Moo 7
- One female suspect apprehended
- Seized items:
-
- 3,345 packs of cigarettes (totaling 65,628 sticks)
- ฿8,020 in cash
- Location 3: Unnumbered Rental House on Prachasamakkee Road
- One female suspect apprehended
- Seized items:
-
- 75 cartons (977 packs) of cigarettes
- ฿5,700 in cash
- Location 4: Unnumbered House on Kan Kheha Road
- One male suspect apprehended
- Seized items:
- 15 cartons (16 packs) of cigarettes
- ฿1,600 in cash
Total Seizure:
- 90 cartons, 4,508 packs, and 69,628 individual cigarettes
- ฿16,240 in cash
All suspects face charges under the Excise Act B.E. 2560 (2017), including:
- Possession of goods with unpaid or insufficient excise tax (Section 203)
- Sale or intent to sell goods with unpaid or insufficient excise tax (Section 204)
The accused and all seized items were transferred to Mueang Phuket Police Station for further legal proceedings.
