Bangkok: The Customs Department seized nitrous oxide (laughing gas) hidden in miscellaneous goods containers, not declared in the shipping manifest, worth over 159 million baht. Mr. Panthong Loikulnan, Director-General of the Customs Department, revealed that on October 29, 2015, officials at the Bangkok Port Customs Office inspected imported goods from China and found 2,670 units of nitrous oxide valued at over 44 million baht that had not been declared on the goods declaration. The gas was packaged with miscellaneous goods. This gas is a drug used in hospitals for anesthesia before surgery or tooth extraction to reduce pain. It has a rapid onset and wears off. Inhaling large amounts can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and unconsciousness. Prolonged use can also cause peripheral nerve damage, numbness in the fingers or toes, and even death. This case constitutes an offense of importing restricted goods into the Kingdom without permission, a violation under Sections 202, 244, 252, 166, and 167 of the Custo
ms Act B.E. 2560 (2017), in conjunction with the Drugs Act B.E. 2510 (1967).

According to Thai News Agency, “This batch of laughing gas originated in China. Initially, officials opened the container to inspect e-cigarettes and found 5kg of laughing gas at the rear of the container. Imported laughing gas is difficult to detect, even with X-rays, but the contents cannot be determined. The container must be opened and examined. Laughing gas is normally used for medical purposes, but it has also been used illegally for recreational purposes, such as in pubs and bars in the Khao San area. It is widely used abroad. One 5kg cylinder of laughing gas can fill 160 balloons, and each balloon sells for 100 baht,” said the Director-General of the Customs Department.

In addition, there are numerous products that infringe intellectual property rights, some of which are TIS-certified. Between September and October 2025, the Customs Department, through the Bangkok Port Customs Office, inspected imported goods from China, declared as miscellaneous goods. The inspection revealed that some of the goods were not declared on the goods declaration. Furthermore, 70 packages, totaling 18,175 items, were found to be infringing on trademarks, resulting in economic losses of over 55 million baht. This case represents the importation of prohibited goods into the Kingdom, in accordance with the Ministry of Commerce’s announcement on the designation of trademark-infringing and copyright-infringing goods as prohibited goods for export, import, and transit through the Kingdom, B.E. 2565 (2022), and constitutes a trademark infringement. This is an offense under Sections 202, 244, 252, 166 and 167 of the Customs Act B.E. 2560, in conjunction with the Export and Import of Goods Act B.E. 2522 a
nd the Trademark Act B.E. 2534.

Most recently, yesterday, the Customs Department, through the Nong Khai Customs Office, discovered 20 kilograms of Category 1 narcotics (heroin) at the Phrom Daeb Nong Khai Checkpoint on the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge No. 1, hidden in the luggage of two Thai women. The value was over 60 million baht. This is an offense of importing and possessing Category 1 narcotics, which is an offense under Sections 242 and 252 of the Customs Act B.E. 2560 in conjunction with the Narcotics Code.

For the statistics of the seizure of illegal goods by the Customs Department, budget year 2025 (from 1 October 2024 – 30 September 2025), a total of 48,711 were seized. 3,000 million baht and from 1 – 31 October 2025, 3,388 other illegal goods were seized, worth more than 170 million baht, by seizing imported goods such as methamphetamine worth 21 million baht, cigarettes worth 20 million baht, cocaine worth 16 million baht, products that do not meet industrial product standards worth 12 million baht, e-cigarette liquid worth 6 million baht, and seizing export goods such as marijuana worth 21 million baht, heroin worth 4 million baht, gold worth 2 million baht, methamphetamine.