Thai Tobacco Trade Association Calls on DE to Target Online Illegal Cigarette Platforms

The Thai Tobacco Trade Association supports the government's proactive crackdown on illegal cigarettes, praising the Department of Internal Affairs' 'Tiger Trap' operation that raided a major illegal cigarette warehouse in Hat Yai. The operation seized over 2,000 boxes (20 million cigarettes), arrested 14 suspects, and impounded 11 vehicles, representing the largest illegal cigarette network takedown in Southern Thailand. Recent survey data shows illegal cigarette consumption slightly decreased from 28% to 25%, though authorities acknowledge the reduction is minimal. Thanyasaran Saengtong, the association's director, emphasized that one in four tobacco market segments remain illegal, causing over 30 billion baht in annual economic damage. The association is particularly concerned about online platforms, especially Facebook, which continue to facilitate illegal cigarette sales, and is calling on the Digital Economy Ministry to take stricter enforcement actions.