The operation was carried out on Saturday (Jan 24) by the Mueang Phuket Phuket District Office in cooperation with Chalong Police, as part of a province-wide crackdown on illegal excise goods.
The suspect, identified only as Yae, was taken into custody after officers discovered 1,880 packs of illegal cigarettes, B21,855 in cash, and 33 related items believed to be connected to the illegal sale and distribution of untaxed tobacco products.
The location of the arrest was not reported.
The inspection and arrest were conducted under the direction of Phuket Governor Nirat Pongsitthaworn, Deputy Governor Adul Chuthong, and Permanent Secretary Rungruang Thimabut. The operation was led by Phuket City District Chief Pairoj Srilamul, with Deputy District Chief Thiti Bunyasathien coordinating officers from the Volunteer Defence Corps (Phuket City District 1) alongside Chalong Police personnel.
Police officers involved included Pol Col Surasak Jaidee, Superintendent of Chalong Police Station, along with patrol and investigation officers assigned to the operation.
The suspect faces multiple charges under the Excise Act B.E. 2560 (2017), including possession and sale of untaxed or undertaxed goods, illegal importation or transportation of goods without customs clearance, and aiding in the concealment or distribution of goods linked to excise and customs offences, said an official report of the arrest.
The suspect and all seized items were handed over to investigating officers at Chalong Police Station for further legal proceedings.
Officials confirmed that inspections will continue as authorities intensify efforts to curb the illegal cigarette trade and protect state revenue, the report concluded.
The raid in Chalong on Saturday followed provincial authorities seizing more than 1,700 smuggled cigarettes during a raid on a shop in Wichit last week as part of an ongoing crackdown on illegal goods in the province.