More than 3,000 cigarette packs seized in Phuket raids

Officials seized more than 3,000 packs of cigarettes suspected of being sold without the required tax payments during raids on four establishments in Mueang Phuket and Kathu on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, according to an official report.

The Phuket Provincial Special Administrative Task Force carried out inspections from 5.30pm following complaints about the illicit sale of tax-evading cigarettes. Three of the establishments were in Mueang Phuket and one was in Kathu. The seized cigarettes were estimated to be worth more than B250,000.

The operation was led by Phuket Provincial Civil Defense Officer Attara Suwattikul and involved the Phuket Provincial Administration’s Special Operations Unit, known as the Maneekram Team, the Mueang Phuket District Special Operations Unit, or Narai Team, and the Kathu District Administration’s Special Operations Unit, or Singha Team. Provincial, district and Volunteer Defense Corps personnel also took part.

The suspects face initial charges under the Excise Tax Act 2017 for possessing goods on which tax had not been paid or had been insufficiently paid, under Section 203(1), and for selling or possessing such goods for sale, under Section 204. They also face a charge under Section 246 of the Customs Act 2017 over allegedly concealing, distributing, transporting, purchasing or otherwise receiving goods they knew or should have known were connected to an offence under Section 242.

Officials seized the cigarettes and prepared arrest records before handing the suspects and goods to inquiry officers for further legal proceedings.