Teen arrested after 7,560 illegal cigarettes seized in Phuket raid
Phuket officials arrested a 16-year-old girl and seized 7,560 untaxed cigarettes during a court-authorized raid on a shop in Talad Yai following residents’ complaints.
A 16-year-old girl was arrested in Phuket after officials seized 378 packs of untaxed cigarettes, totalling 7,560 cigarettes, during a raid on a shop in Talad Yai.
The raid took place last Friday, May 29, after nearby residents complained that the shop was selling illegal cigarettes. District officials investigated the complaint, identified the shop near the intersection of Amphur Road and Srisuthat Road, and obtained a search warrant from the Phuket Provincial Court.
A team led by Deputy District Chief Akkra Suwattikul, together with other deputy district chiefs and members of the Volunteer Defence Corps, executed the warrant at the shop on Srisuthat Road.
During the search, officers found the teenager operating the business and seized the cigarettes. She was charged with possession and sale of untaxed goods under the Excise Tax Act, as well as offences under customs laws related to the importation and handling of goods that had not undergone customs clearance.
The girl and the seized items were handed over to investigators at Phuket City Police Station for further legal action.
Officials said the girl’s mother was notified and was present during the arrest process in line with child protection procedures.
