Strict Enforcement Of Duty Free Allowances

[martinhuahin]

We have today had visitors arriving from the UK (a family of four, 2 Adults and 2 teenage Sons) who were detained and then fined 35,000THB (£500) for having too many cigarrettes.

They had five cartons they had purchased in Abu Dabi on the way here.

As this is their first visit to Thailand, they were understandibly shocked as they were all four taken by Police truck to be grilled for 2 hours regarding this "crime", away from the airport terminal.

Furthermore, they were not alone in receiving this treatment, several other UK passengers on the same flight were detained for the same reason.

As many ex-pats will have visitors coming over PLEASE WARN THEM ABOUT THE STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF DUTY FREE ALLOWANCES.

The laws are now apparently being rigorously applied. Limits are 200 cigarettes and 1 litre of spirits per adult.

This has been an awful start to my friends holiday, as they were treated like criminals for hours upon arrival.

If you can advise your family and friends, you will avoid similar problems.

[lomatopo]

Were your friends aware of the duty-free limitations? Most in-flight magazines list duty-free allowances for those countries served by the carrier. Even after purchase your friends could have left the excess duty-free items on the aircraft, or with airline personnel, prior to deplaning in BKK. In general it is advisable to be aware of such rules, and to try and abide by them. Maybe this experience will allow them to consider stopping smoking?

[dreimer]

Buying cigarettes in Thailand from street vendors is cheaper than duty free.

But considering the country of origin, they probably thought they were getting a good deal.

You should have told them it's cheaper to buy everything in Thailand...

[jingjoe]

I (used to) bring in at least 100 cigars, which is probably double the allowence. I have never been checked or even copped a sideways glance from Thai customs.

This is a good wake up call that it may take some months, or even years for thai officialdom to recede back into it's apparently lazy & carefree depths.

[Axel]

Correct, the limits are 200 cigarettes and 1 litre of spirits per adult.

I certainly do carry more, most of the time, but I am aware of some problems, shold I be stopped.

Coming into Thailand literally hundreds of times I once had to open my suit case for a hand search. (They complained it was too heavy but ignored alcohol and cigs inside ) and once was asked to run it through the X-ray machine in the customs area. I did, took my bag and just walked on with a friendly 'thank you' and a smile. Guess, he was a bit shocked and did not find the words to ppointout the result of the x-ray.

[libya 115]

I cannot criticise the customs for doing there job, I know the limits, I make sure I know the limits for every country I enter.

However the sum of 35,000 baht 'fine' is outrageous. That is pure extortion; dishonest and corrupt.

Edited October 15, 2006 by libya 115

[kayo]

Hmm, I am inclined to think that this was pure extortion too..

[The Philosopher]

We have today had visitors arriving from the UK (a family of four, 2 Adults and 2 teenage Sons) who were detained and then fined 35,000THB (£500) for having too many cigarrettes.

They had five cartons they had purchased in Abu Dabi on the way here.

As this is their first visit to Thailand, they were understandibly shocked as they were all four taken by Police truck to be grilled for 2 hours regarding this "crime", away from the airport terminal.

Furthermore, they were not alone in receiving this treatment, several other UK passengers on the same flight were detained for the same reason.

As many ex-pats will have visitors coming over PLEASE WARN THEM ABOUT THE STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF DUTY FREE ALLOWANCES.

The laws are now apparently being rigorously applied. Limits are 200 cigarettes and 1 litre of spirits per adult.

This has been an awful start to my friends holiday, as they were treated like criminals for hours upon arrival.

They were criminals they were smuggling tobacco. Why is so many people think they can just come to Thailand and break the rules and because they are on holiday it is ok

If you can advise your family and friends, you will avoid similar problems.

[The Philosopher]

They were criminals they were smuggling tobacco. Why is so many people think they can just come to Thailand and break the rules and because they are on holiday it is ok

[britmaveric]

You must pay duty on those in excess if you want to keep them. I'd let them have the fags and be on your way. 5 cartons - worst happens is confiscation, this has to be a one off.

[chuchok]

You must pay duty on those in excess if you want to keep them. I'd let them have the fags and be on your way. 5 cartons - worst happens is confiscation, this has to be a one off.

Be interested to see the legislation here.They would probably have to pay the duty plus a penalty etc.

[britmaveric]

You must pay duty on those in excess if you want to keep them. I'd let them have the fags and be on your way. 5 cartons - worst happens is confiscation, this has to be a one off.

Be interested to see the legislation here.They would probably have to pay the duty plus a penalty etc.

well most dutymen follow this policy in my experience - unless its an obvious taking the piss, more than self consumption - ie trying to sell.

Seen at Heathrow - asian lady was pulled aside with her bags and counterfeit dvds/cds and must have been hundreds cartons of ciggies. These are the types they are looking for not some lad with 5 cartons. Waist of time and more headaches than its worth.

[martinhuahin]

You must pay duty on those in excess if you want to keep them. I'd let them have the fags and be on your way. 5 cartons - worst happens is confiscation, this has to be a one off.

This would have been the situation in the UK. However, they were not given the option of having the cartons confiscated. The father was arrested, and the rest of the family had to escort him to the station. They were fined and the cartons still confiscated. All this took over two hours. Yes they broke the law, but was this harsh treatment necessary? Please also bear in mind there are "duty free on arrival" shops in the arrivals hall. One can only wonder if these shops are advising customers of this new strict enforcement of the rules.

We have all been used to fairly relaxed customs on arrival. It would seem those days are over...

[sriracha john]

Did they purchase them at the new airport's duty free?

Speaking of signs, I never noticed signs at Don Muang duty free shops detailing the limits and have seen people buy 5 cartons and walk right into the arrivals hall with them.

Same same at land border duty free shops... 5 cartons and 5 liters of booze is not all that unusual.

Fine and detention are both far in excess of what would be perceived as righteous.

[ovenman]

Please also bear in mind there are "duty free on arrival" shops in the arrivals hall. One can only wonder if these shops are advising customers of this new strict enforcement of the rules.

Indeed. One wonders whether the same laws apply for purchases that line the pockets of King Power.

[ovenman]

They were criminals they were smuggling tobacco. Why is so many people think they can just come to Thailand and break the rules and because they are on holiday it is ok

I hear ya. I've noticed in the years that I have spent in Thailand that the Thais themselves are particularly studious and diligent when it comes to following the kingdom's laws.

[britmaveric]

Please also bear in mind there are "duty free on arrival" shops in the arrivals hall. One can only wonder if these shops are advising customers of this new strict enforcement of the rules.

Indeed. One wonders whether the same laws apply for purchases that line the pockets of King Power.

I assume since you are in Thailand, the purchase was made in thailand then not an issue. Also helps you are paying heaps more than what you would pay right outside the airport.

[Axel]

You must pay duty on those in excess if you want to keep them. I'd let them have the fags and be on your way. 5 cartons - worst happens is confiscation, this has to be a one off.

I don't think you can pay duty, as Thailand has only one party that is allowed to import, i.e. the Monopoly-company. Nobody else has got a licence to import above the allowance for travellers.

[Kaojai]

... grilled for 2 hours regarding this "crime", away from the airport terminal.

The laws are now apparently being rigorously applied. Limits are 200 cigarettes and 1 litre of spirits per adult.

This has been an awful start to my friends holiday, as they were treated like criminals for hours upon arrival.

So they broke the law and were treated like criminals. Do you assume that being from the UK provides immunity? What do they do in the UK when you break the law?

[Arkady]

Did the customs issue a receipt in this case?

For many years of frequent travel to Don Muang I only saw customs harassing Indians.

[meadish_sweetball]

We've had reports from Brits getting busted with excessive amounts of ciggies from Don Muang earlier on TV too.

[Scott]

Wow, I can't believe the complaints about being busted! I've travelled a lot and have gone through a lot of customs (and have been busted on more than one occasion). The thing is you are a criminal entering a country. You get a customs card to fill out that you can list what you have. When you sign the card saying you don't have any of the things (or over the amount), of course you are going to have problems.

I do hope the people affected learn a valuable lesson and I am sure most are not really bad people, but laws are laws and whether they enforce them or not, you are taking your chances when you break them.

[bkkandrew]

Wow, I can't believe the complaints about being busted! I've travelled a lot and have gone through a lot of customs (and have been busted on more than one occasion). The thing is you are a criminal entering a country. You get a customs card to fill out that you can list what you have. When you sign the card saying you don't have any of the things (or over the amount), of course you are going to have problems.

I do hope the people affected learn a valuable lesson and I am sure most are not really bad people, but laws are laws and whether they enforce them or not, you are taking your chances when you break them.

For goodness sake. It is ridiculous, lunatic and niave to think that you can smuggle goods into thailand for a profit! What holidaymaker would plan that??

This is just a new customs scam..

[bkkandrew]

Wow, I can't believe the complaints about being busted! I've travelled a lot and have gone through a lot of customs (and have been busted on more than one occasion). The thing is you are a criminal entering a country. You get a customs card to fill out that you can list what you have. When you sign the card saying you don't have any of the things (or over the amount), of course you are going to have problems.

I do hope the people affected learn a valuable lesson and I am sure most are not really bad people, but laws are laws and whether they enforce them or not, you are taking your chances when you break them.

For goodness sake. It is ridiculous, lunatic and niave to think that you can smuggle goods into thailand for a profit! What holidaymaker would plan that??

This is just a new customs scam..

And in any case, there are no customs cards now. They were abolished over a year ago!

[sriracha john]

It's a method of ensuring the successful launch of TAT's New Tourism slogan for 2007.

If your wallet gets raped, it's likely to be an 'Unforgettable Thailand' experience.

Three cheers for TAT's innovative approach to decrease the number of travellers here.

Edited October 17, 2006 by sriracha john

[LaoPo]

It's a method of ensuring the successful launch of TAT's New Tourism slogan for 2007.

If your wallet gets raped, it's likely to be an 'Unforgettable Thailand' experience.

Three cheers for TAT's innovative approach to decrease the number of travellers here.

I second that !

I can understand customs in any country, charging Taxes and even a fine of 100% for goods (cigarettes in this case) people bring in and didn't declare.

But in this case 35.000 Baht is outrageous for 5 cartons of cigs.

There has been a few stories now in the past few days about people bringing in goods and charged excessive amounts of money.

I recall the case of 5 English guys who brought 5 cartons each and had to pay Pounds Sterling 3.000,--

What the heck is going on ?

Is there NO WAY this can be stopped ?

It stinks !

And................it stinks because it 'looks like' a set-up between some Custom guys and 'some police-station' where these arrival-passengers are transported to.....

Someone has an idea to expose this ?

LaoPo

[AsiaMB]

I cannot criticise the customs for doing there job, I know the limits, I make sure I know the limits for every country I enter.

However the sum of 35,000 baht 'fine' is outrageous. That is pure extortion; dishonest and corrupt.

COME ON....... THAILAND IS NOW NOT CORRUPT>>>> NOW THAT THAKSIN IS GONE EVEYTHING IS OK.... NO CORRUPTION, ALL POLICE ARE NOW LAW ABIDING< AND ALL GOVT OFFICIALS are MAGICALLY NOW are as clean as a whistle...................COMON........ ((WINK WINK )

[kippers]

This is an old topic, about 18 months 2 years ago there was a spate of similar border checks at not only Don Muang but also at land entry points.

In those days I was doing a monthly border run and was stopped at a checkpoint after re-entering thailand, there was four in my car and a total of 9 reams of cigarettes....after waiting for 2 hours the customs and excise guys arrived and we were told that the fine would be B23,000, to cut a long story short, we were very lucky to get away by destroying 5 reams.....(well by hurling them into the back of their pickup) and we went on our merry way.

There was numerous other stories at the time of similar occurences, some with horrible results, I think its approaching the tourist season and the voice on high has told his minions to show that they are doing their jobs and raise some revenue whilst at it.

Anyway I gave up smoking about 18 months ago and don't have to worry about the problem anymore.

[StevenCalifornia]

Its happened to me on the borders of the united states canad and mexico. its not unusual for people to smuggle stuff that really isnt a big crime but a crime none the less. I can say I have gone into and out of countries with leather jackets or smokes or booze. we always thought it was just fun sneaking around and making a quick buck and hel_l pay for the trip, kinda like a road trip.

so I been caught and Ive sat in rooms for hours with people who really really did something worse like smuggling people. so theres a little give and take at the borders and the people that go in and out know the "game". customs sometimes turn their back or just take your stuff away make you pay the duty tax and still take it away and sometimes make yuou pay and give it back to you.

if you play the game you better know the score. if you leave it alone it will work itself out.

I dont think most people are really trying to hurt the economy or steal. people are greedy its been that way since man arrived on the planet. I hope the new customs agents realize that and handle each case as it arrives

[tompelli]

Time for a history lesson. Customs & Excise as they are in the UK were set up originally to protect the income gained from imported goods for the crown. They to this day carry a warrant card that allows them to search ANY premises without the normal process of first obtaining a search warrant. The problems really start when in their (customs worldwide) opinion you are deliberatley smuggling. In the UK on arrival & going merrily through the green lane, if you are stopped & the nice officer says have you read this (duty free allowance) card? If you say yes then what happened at Suvarnabhumi will happen anywhere. So, at that point you plead stupidity say no you haven't read it & proceed to be processed as an idiot rather than as a smuggler. Like many British standards, the majority of customs rules have been adopted worldwide - trying to take in 10 cartons of cigarettes = criminal activity. Singapore is a slight exception in that they do not have a duty free allowance for cigarettes, which mean that the one carton that most tourists will take with them is above the zero allowance & therefore smuggling - straight to Changi do not pass go.