The Customs Department is set to announce a list of imported products that will see tax evasion suspects prosecuted in court, without settlement at the customs official level, says its chief.
These products include those infringing on intellectual property rights; those under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, such as ivory; and some farm products, including garlic and onion, said Kulit Sombatsiri, the outgoing director-general of the Customs Department.
The department is required to conduct a public hearing on the list of products before implementation.
Importers who violate the law for the first time will not be prosecuted by the court, but their names will appear on the department's watch list and repeat offenders will be prosecuted, he said.
The current practice calls for settlement for import value worth up to 400,000 baht to be under the director-general's authority, while those worth more than 400,000 baht are under the mandate of a committee on settlement and fines.
Fines are capped at four times the imported product value plus duty, depending on charges.
Mr Kulit, who will begin as energy permanent secretary on Oct 1, said he has tried to revamp the Customs Department to be an organisation that eases business operations by adopting the pre-arrival processing system.
The system allows goods shipped by sea or air to be discharged from customs immediately upon arrival if they are not listed as risky products and permits those who buy products from overseas vendors to pay import duties online and use delivery services without the need to pick up parcels at Laksi Post Office.