Thailand blacklists 86 foreigners in smuggling crackdown

Thai police and customs authorities have stepped up a joint crackdown on cross-border smuggling of cash, gold and cannabis buds, blacklisting 86 foreign nationals to prevent repeat offences. Deputy National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Nirandorn Lueamsri said the Royal Thai Police and the Customs Department have integrated their databases and adopted more proactive measures to curb illicit imports and exports that undermine state revenue and national security.

Under Thai customs law, smuggling prohibited goods including narcotics, currency and gold carries criminal penalties including imprisonment and fines. However, offenders can often settle cases without police investigation by paying fines set by the customs chief or a comparison committee. For seized goods valued above 400,000 baht, settlement requires committee approval.

The committee, comprising Customs Director-General Phanthong Loykulnanta, a senior Finance Ministry inspector and Nirandorn, meets monthly and has handled numerous cases involving both Thai and foreign offenders. Authorities have found frequent attempts to move large sums of Thai currency and gold out of the country without declaration, sometimes worth millions of baht per case, raising concerns about capital flight and possible links to overseas money laundering.

Cash smuggling is typically detected at border checkpoints near casino areas, often involving ASEAN nationals, while gold smuggling is more commonly intercepted at airports, frequently involving South Asian nationals. Many offenders have extensive travel histories, with some entering and leaving Thailand dozens of times, and some are repeat offenders.

Foreign nationals have also been caught attempting to export cannabis buds without authorization, often destined for European countries. The product remains a controlled herb under Thai regulations and is illegal in many destination countries. Because many offenders settle cases by paying fines, some have been able to re-enter Thailand and reoffend.

To address this, police and customs have begun sharing offender data with the Immigration Bureau to enhance monitoring. Foreign offenders identified in the database are being placed on an immigration blacklist barring re-entry, while Thai nationals are placed on a watchlist subject to stricter screening. Authorities have compiled records on 114 individuals, 86 foreigners and 28 Thais, with all foreign nationals meeting criteria for blacklisting. Officials urged travellers to familiarize themselves with customs regulations on prohibited items to avoid legal penalties.