The Interior Ministry and army have threatened to take action against officers of all ranks, including the provincial governor, if they are found to have been involved in smuggling untaxed goods along the Thai-Cambodian border.
The move follows a complaint raised by Customs Department director-general Somchai Sujjapongse that officers were involved with goods smuggling along the border, particularly in Aranyaprathet district of Sa Kaeo province.
Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda said he has yet to receive a report on the involvement of ministry officials, but said he would not spare anyone, no matter how senior they were, if they were found to have been involved.
Gen Anupong's remarks were in response to Mr Somchai's claim that local soldiers and Interior Ministry officials, including kamnans (tambon heads) and phuyaibans (village heads), in Aranyaprathet district had been involved in smuggling.
Army spokesman Winthai Suwaree, also a spokesman for the National Council for Peace and Order, said yesterday army chief Udomdej Sitabutr had ordered soldiers working along border areas to refrain from illegal activity.
"Army commanders of all levels have explicitly told their subordinates to stay away from illegal activities and monitor their conduct closely. All officers are expected to perform their duties properly," Col Winthai said.
Agencies concerned with manning border checkpoints — such as police and local authorities and the military — would jointly investigate alleged involvement of their personnel in the smuggling of goods through border checkpoints.
Mr Somchai told the press on Wednesday that soldiers had been involved in smuggling of untaxed goods along the border.
The Customs Department chief cited a case in Aranyaprathet where soldiers stood on a bridge built to assist the smuggling of contraband and then allegedly obstructed the work of customs officials who tried to arrest the smugglers.
Interior Ministry officials, including kamnan and phuyaiban, had also been involved by mobilising residents to prevent officials from cracking down on smugglers.
Goods smuggled included pirated goods and garments.
Before the crackdown operation, Aranyaprathet customs checkpoint could collect taxes of 100,000 baht a day. After the operation, collected taxes rose to one million baht a day, he said.
Mr Somchai notified military authorities about the alleged involvement of local soldiers.
The Customs Department has already taken action against those involved in the disappearance of 500 luxury cars from its tax-free zone.
Those allegedly responsible include operators of bonded warehouses storing the vehicles and customs officials.
It is believed the cars were smuggled from the bonded warehouse and registered as locally-assembled cars to benefit from a low tax rate.