SONGKHLA: Customs officials have seized untaxed imported cigarettes worth about 10 million baht from a van and a pickup truck at a petrol station in Chana district on Tuesday.
A team of the Songkhla customs office’s suppression officials found the two suspected vehicles at the petrol station in tambon Ban Na to refuel. Upon seeing the officials, the drivers ran away, leaving their vehicles at the station.
The officials searched the vehicles and found 400 boxes containing untaxed cigarettes of Astro brand, valued about 10 million baht.
Authorities are coordinating with the Songkhla land transport office to check the ownership of the vehicles, Vorachit Detbovornlak, director the Customs Department’s suppression unit, said during a media conference.
The seized cigarettes were produced in Indonesia and smuggled into the country along the border in this southern province. The items were believed to be destined for the deep South.