MGR Online — The Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) and the Excise Department have dismantled a major illicit cigarette warehouse in Nakhon Ratchasima, arresting a 73-year-old woman and seizing 1.5 million cigarette sticks worth 6.75 million baht. The maximum fine in the case could reach 60 million baht.
Today (3 Aug.), at the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) headquarters, Police General Nirun Lueamsri, Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police and Director of the Police Centre for Suppressing Illicit Tobacco Products (PCSIT), together with Police Lieutenant General Natthasak Chaowanasai, Commander of the CIB; Police Major General Thatpoom Jaruprat, Commander of the ECD; Police Colonel Wongpakorn Bremkulnan, Deputy Commander of the ECD; Police Colonel Naruephon Karuna, Superintendent of ECD Sub-Division 2; and Police Lieutenant Colonel Wannalop Rattanawong, Inspector of ECD Sub-Division 2 — joined by Acting Sub-Lieutenant Yongyut Phumiprathet, Tax Strategy Adviser of the Excise Department — held a press conference to announce the seizure of 150 cartons, or 1,500,000 cigarette sticks (75,000 packs), with an estimated value of approximately 6.75 million baht, found at a convenience store in Mueang District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province.
Police Lieutenant General Natthasak disclosed that this arrest was the result of a crackdown operation targeting offences related to e-cigarettes and tax-evading cigarettes, conducted between 1–15 July 2026, in line with government policy to step up suppression of the illegal smuggling of tobacco products, which has caused significant economic damage to the country. The operation led to the arrest of a major illicit cigarette distributor in Nakhon Ratchasima Province.
Police Major General Thatpoom stated that the investigation unit had received information that illicit tax-evading cigarettes were being sold on a wide scale in Nakhon Ratchasima Province. Officers conducted ground-level investigations and determined that a woman was using an unnumbered residence on Sueb Siri Road, Soi 3/11/8, Nai Mueang Sub-district, Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima District, operated as a convenience store as a front for smuggling cigarettes in both retail and wholesale quantities. Officers then conducted surveillance and gathered evidence before applying to the Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Court for a search warrant. Police Colonel Naruephon added that upon executing the search, they found Mrs. Phimphon, also known as "Tiew" (surname withheld), aged 73, who identified herself as the owner of the premises. The search uncovered various brands of foreign cigarettes bearing no tax stamps, concealed inside the residence — 150 cartons in total, or 1,500,000 sticks (75,000 packs), with a combined value of 6.75 million baht, causing the state to lose more than 4 million baht in tax revenue. During interrogation, the suspect confessed that all of the cigarettes belonged to her and were intended for sale to both retail and regular wholesale customers. She said she had ordered them from an unidentified Thai man who smuggled them in through natural border crossing points in the Chong Jom area of Surin Province, before delivering them to her home by pickup truck. Nevertheless, officers have not fully accepted her account and will continue to investigate and expand the case to identify the importers and other members of the network.
Initial charges have been filed against her for offences relating to concealing, distributing, purchasing, receiving, or possessing goods that were smuggled into the country without going through customs procedures and without payment of tax. She was taken into custody along with all seized exhibits and handed over to investigators at ECD Sub-Division 2 for legal proceedings.
Acting Sub-Lieutenant Yongyut stated that this arrest is considered one of the largest illicit tax-evading cigarette smuggling cases of the year. The seized goods have caused more than 4 million baht in lost state revenue, and the offender may face a maximum fine of up to 60 million baht. He also warned that smuggled cigarettes do not undergo standard quality and safety inspections, and may be contaminated with mould and hazardous substances, posing serious health risks to consumers.
