The arrests were made at about 10am yesterday (May 28) inside the international arrivals terminal at Phuket International Airport in Mai Khao, Thalang.
The three suspects were identified as Okhunjou Faizullayev, 35, an Uzbekistani national; Nodir Atabekov, 24, an Uzbekistani national; and Bekhruz Mukhtorov, 20, a Kazakhstani national.
According to the report, Customs officers became suspicious after detecting unusual items in the suspects’ luggage at about 10am while they were passing through the ‘Nothing to Declare’, or green, channel on the first floor of the international arrivals terminal.
Officers conducted a detailed inspection of three bags and discovered a total of 38 smartphones imported from overseas.
All three suspects admitted ownership of the luggage, the report said.
The men were charged with “smuggling or bringing into the Kingdom goods that have not paid taxes, restricted goods, prohibited goods, or goods that have not been properly cleared through customs”.
The suspects, along with the seized smartphones, were handed over to investigators at Sakhu Police Station for further legal proceedings.
The case is being handled under the direction of Sakhu Police Chief Pol Col Salan Santisasanakul, with Pol Lt Col. Kornphumphoj Phongphaiboon serving as the investigating officer.