Bangkok: The government has announced a significant crackdown on illegal excise goods, revealing the seizure of 32,812 cases of smuggled goods over the past 10 months, which has resulted in fines totaling 901.82 million baht. Tobacco-related offenses were identified as the most prevalent among these cases.

According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Ploytalay Laksmisangchan, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, reported that the government is actively advancing its efforts to prevent and combat the smuggling and sale of illicit cigarettes, which have been identified as the most frequently encountered illegal product. This activity is noted to significantly impact state revenues as well as legally operating businesses.

Ms. Ploytalee highlighted that the government's strategy, led by the Excise Department of the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with security agencies and related organizations, focuses on enhancing investigation, intelligence gathering, and proactive operations. These efforts align with government policy and directives from Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul. As a result, the comprehensive crackdown during the 10-month period of fiscal year 2026 has led to fines amounting to 901.82 million baht, with an estimated total fine potential of 4,508.18 million baht. Tobacco-related cases constituted over 61% of the total, with 20,160 cases, leading to fines of 609.39 million baht and an estimated total fine of 4,376.97 million baht. Authorities seized 4,862,367 packs of tobacco as evidence.

Ms. Ploytalee emphasized that the integrated efforts of relevant agencies have enhanced the efficacy of combating illegal goods. Significant cases of illegal goods seizures have been successfully managed across various regions, covering all types of excise goods. The government remains committed to improving revenue collection efficiency while cracking down on smuggling and tax evasion to ensure fairness for law-abiding businesses and protect national interests.