25 July 2013| last updated at 12:29AM
Thailand seizes 127,000 cartons of fake cigarettes
By NAJIHAH ROSLAN | [email protected]
Songkhla Customs officers showing the fake cigarettes seized from two lorries. Pic by P.C. Lim
ON THEIR WAY INTO MALAYSIA: Two lorries carrying the contraband from Cambodia stopped in Songkhla
SADAO: THE Thai Customs Department foiled an attempt to smuggle out counterfeit cigarettes with unpaid duties totalling RM1 million into Malaysia by an international syndicate.
The success was due to the close cooperation with the Royal Malaysian Customs Department.
In the June 7 operation, the Thai Customs seized 127,000 cartons of counterfeit John White and John Red cigarettes.
Director of Songkhla Customs Bureau 4 Prayud Manichot said yesterday the fake contraband was brought into Thailand from Cambodia and was to be sent to Malaysia before being distributed to other countries.
He said the cigarettes had arrived in Bangkok in early June and the syndicate had tried to smuggle the consignment through the Thai-Malaysia border in two 10-tonne lorries, but this was foiled by Thai Customs.
The two lorry drivers were detained.
Bukit Kayu Hitam Customs Enforcement Division senior assistant director Muhamad Marzuki Ahmad said fake cigarettes were in demand as they were cheap.
