The Excise Department cracked down on more than 32,000 cases of tax evasion nationwide during the first 10 months of fiscal year 2026, collecting over 900 million baht in fines. Illicit tobacco continues to account for the lion’s share of offences.
Pornchai Thiraveja, director general of the Excise Department, reported today that, from Oct 1, 2025 to July 31, 2026, officials pressed charges in 32,812 cases, resulting in 901.82 million baht in fines collected and estimated total fines reaching 4.5 billion baht.
Illicit tobacco remained the top offence, accounting for 20,160 cases, more than 61% of total violations. Over the 10-month period, authorities seized 4,862,367 packs of contraband cigarettes, generating 609.39 million baht in actual fines and an estimated 4.37 billion baht in potential penalties.
In July 2026 alone, officers handled 3,196 cases with 79.52 million baht in collected fines and 248.78 million baht in estimated fines. Tobacco-related offences led the tally again at 2,008 cases (63%), yielding 58.10 million baht in fines, 239.91 million baht in estimated fines and the seizure of 408,205 packs.
Investigations discovered that smuggling networks have continually adapted their tactics to evade arrest, utilising sea routes, natural border crossings, private residences and courier distribution centers as staging points to transport smaller, less conspicuous batches.
In response, the department integrated operations with the Royal Thai Police, Customs Department, Royal Thai Armed Forces and national security agencies, leading to a string of high-profile seizures.
The largest single case in July occurred on the 29, when Regional Excise Office 7 seized 124,922 packs of ‘Krong Thip’ cigarettes marked "FOR EXPORT ONLY" in Kanchanaburi province. The network had attempted to re-introduce duty-free export cigarettes back into the domestic market, incurring an estimated fine of 124.08 million baht.
On July 14, the Songkhla Excise Office, alongside the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) and local police, intercepted 56,000 packs of untaxed cigarettes in Chana district, with estimated fines exceeding 35.17 million baht. The contraband was handed over to investigators to help them track down ringleaders.
Other significant operations took place across several provinces. In Satun, officers seized 10,000 packs of untaxed foreign cigarettes, with an estimated fine of 9.42 million baht, alongside 10,500 liters of untaxed diesel from a modified fishing vessel.
In Nakhon Si Thammarat, authorities intercepted 6,733 packs of contraband cigarettes hidden within postal and private courier delivery systems, carrying an estimated fine of 6.34 million baht.
Further busts were carried out in Chiang Mai, where 4,690 packs of foreign cigarettes were confiscated, with an estimated fine of 4.42 million baht, and in Nonthaburi, where 3,500 packs were seized, carrying an estimated fine of 3.30 million baht.
Meanwhile, in Rayong, officers pressed charges in two major cases involving untaxed tobacco and illicit beverages, reflecting what it is described as an unrelenting enforcement policy to eliminate tax evasion and illegal goods across all regions and product categories.
