SADAO (Thailand), July 24 (Bernama) — The smart partnership between Malaysian and Thai Customs resulted in the seizure of 127,500 cartons of cigarettes worth 488,161 bath (RM1 equivalent to 9.5 bath) which were to be marketed in the country from the neighbour.
Southern Thailand Fourth Bureau Customs director Prayud Panichot said the success was possible based exchange of information between the two departments.
“As a result of the close cooperation, two lorry drivers, aged 21 and 27 years, and two ten-tonne lorries which were carrying 75,000 carton of John Red cigarettes and 52,500 cartons of John White respectively were detained at the Sadao Customs Complex on June 7 .
“Bar code inspection showed the cigarettes were fake and were imported from Cambodia by road, transited at Bangkok and did not have Customs clearance.” he told Malaysian and Thai journalists here, Wednesday.
The distance between Sadao and Bukit Kayu Hitam on the Malaysian border is only 10 kilometres.
Also present were Bukit Kayu Hitam Customs chief, Customs senior assistant director Muhamad Marzuki Ahmad and Sadao Customs director M.L. Sittidej Skhasvasdi.
“The cigarettes are worth RM80,000 in Malaysia but duties are estimated to be around RM1 million,” said Marzuki, adding that the smart partnership would be further enhanced.
— BERNAMA
