SONGKHLA — Customs officials have seized untaxed liquor worth four million baht from a truck reportedly belonging to the army in Hat Yai district.
Photo from Facebook of Cathay Mee
The Nissan truck bearing a military licence plate, No.6195, was found at a PTT petrol station on Lopburi Rames Road in tambon Khlong Hae on Sunday. The driver’s door reportedly bore Thai wording which indicated the truck is owned by the 24th Transportation Battalion, 4th Army Support Command.
Officials from Regional Customs Bureau 4 searched the vehicle following a tip-off and discovered in the back of the truck more than 300 bottles of smuggled liquor and wine of foreign brands that are popular among local drinkers, including Johnnie Walker. The bottles were concealed in paper crates wrapped in black plastic bags. They did not find the truck's driver.
Customs officials are checking to see whether the truck belongs to the military and which unit. They believe the liquor was smuggled through the Sadao-Padang Besar checkpoint in Songkhla’s Sadao district to be delivered to Bangkok.
Army spokesman Col Winthai Suwaree said army chief Udomdej Sitabutr had been made aware of the incident and had ordered all units to make an urgent assessment of their facilities and equipment.
Any investigation would be carried out according to the justice system and the military code of conduct, he said.
Col Winthai quoted Gen Udomdej as saying the truck had been on a two-day mission on Sunday and Monday to transport military equipment for the unit to which it belongs.
Any officer who has breached military orders would face serious legal and military disciplinary action, he said.