After the team, which included experts from the Fine Arts Department and Customs, had examined the items, the governor explained, “We are here today to check applications by shops to sell them and export them overseas. We have checked and they are all replicas, not genuine antiques.”
Thai law prohibits the export of religious antiques, particularly Buddha images, and exports of other antiques must receive approval fom the Fine Arts Department.
“We have to be careful because Phuket has many expats living here and many tourists, and Buddha images or religious images are quite popular among them,” the governor said.
“The artifacts today are approved for [export] because they are replicas. Every province that has an international airport – Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chonburi, Songkhla, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani and Phuket – must have a team to check for illegally exported antiques,” said Provincial Quartermaster Sukkamon Wongsawan.
“There are 14 to 15 shops around Phuket that are registered with us and have approval for lists of artifacts that can be sold and exported.
“Beginning next week, our team will check all the shops to see whether the products in the shops are all on the lists submitted or not.”