Latest news with #ThaiCustomsDepartment
Bangkok Post
30-07-2025
- Business
- Bangkok Post
Trade, eateries suffer from border spat
Clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border, with both sides exchanging artillery fire and hundreds of thousands of people displaced, are affecting transshipment and restaurants in the area, says the private sector. Jiraphant Asvatanakul, vice-chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the border trade and cross-border trade strategic committee, said there had been immediate effects for goods transiting from third countries to Cambodia. These products are typically allowed to be in a free zone for up to 30 days, but ongoing conflicts are causing shipment delays. The Thai Customs Department is considering measures to address this issue. He said the private sector is concerned about certain consumer products Cambodia has imported from China and Vietnam to replace Thai goods. "If the conflict continues for 2-3 years, Thai businesses may face increased marketing costs to re-enter the Cambodian market," said Mr Jiraphant. He said the conflict had also affected the tourism sector in border provinces as tourists are opting for alternative destinations. The private sector still considers the nation's security to be the priority, said Mr Jiraphant. He said it is too early to assess the losses from this situation as it would depend on the duration of the conflict. Chanon Koetcharoen, president of the Restaurant Association, said the ongoing violence has damaged the image of Thai tourism and shaken confidence among foreign travellers. Although the clashes are limited to specific areas, some travellers may not figure out the actual situation and could generalise by applying it to the entire country. Mr Chanon said restaurants located in the evacuated area are impacted by the clashes as they are not able to operate their premises, while others are seeing diners opt to spend less time away from their homes. The clashes have displaced people from border areas, with some fleeing to Muang Si Sa Ket, said Thanyatep Kunapornpipatkit, an owner of Craft&Cold Sisaket restaurant. With the influx of people into the town, some food carts and street vendors may have seen increased sales. However, established restaurants may be seeing a decline as many people are choosing to save money during the crisis. Mr Thanyatep said the recent clashes have further weakened an already sluggish local economy. He reported a 20-30% drop in his restaurant's sales last weekend compared with regular periods. Mr Thanyatep said even if the situation de-escalates and a ceasefire is implemented, businesses may need 1-2 months to recover. Supanut Charoensatapong, the owner of Ting Ting Bingsu, a dessert café in Surin, said his restaurant's sales have dropped over recent days, even though it is more than 50 kilometres from the Thai-Cambodian border. He said there are fewer customers coming from other provinces and districts, with the majority now coming from Muang Surin, which is the main town area. Mr Supanut said if the clashes continue for much longer, his café may come under pressure because it doesn't sell essential meals.
Bangkok Post
29-06-2025
- Bangkok Post
Thailand relaxes some Cambodian border controls to help stranded people, vehicles
The Burapa Task Force, which supervises border areas with Cambodia in Sa Kaeo province, has relaxed its border controls to help repatriate stranded Cambodians and vehicles from both Thailand and Cambodia. Maj Gen Benchapol Dechatiwong na Ayutthaya, commander of the task force, on Sunday signed two orders to provide temporary leniency as the army has sealed the Thai-Cambodian border, except for humanitarian reasons, amid bilateral tensions started by the Cambodian side in April. According to the orders, which took immediate effect, stranded cargo trucks can return to their homelands through three border checkpoints in the next seven days under strict limitations. The crossings by stranded cargo trucks are limited to 50 trucks a day for either inbound or outbound travel through the Ban Khao Din and Ban Nong Ian-Stung Bot checkpoints, and only between 8am and 4pm. At the Bang Nong Prue border checkpoint, the number of cargo trucks is limited to 20 a day for either inbound or outbound travel, and only between 8am and noon. The relaxation applies to cargo trucks whose journeys were registered with the Thai Customs Department before June 25. Cargo trucks that earlier left for Cambodia must return to Thailand without cargo. The task force commander also extended permitted stays for Cambodians who had border passes and temporary work permits which lasted for seven and 15 days respectively. However, the order did not cover those whose stays expired before June 23.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Airport officials uncover horrifying secret inside mislabeled seafood shipment: 'This is a clear message'
Thai customs seized a massive shipment of shark fins amid crackdowns on wildlife smuggling. According to The Nation, 402 shark fins were found at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand. Authorities seized a shipment labeled "dry fish," which had over 100 kilograms of shark fins inside. Officials estimated that the illegal shipment was worth about 2 million Thai baht, the equivalent of about $60,000. Prior to arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport, the shipment of shark fins had been transported through China and originally left from Trinidad and Tobago. Removing and transporting shark fins violates several laws, including the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act, the Animal Epidemics Act, the Royal Ordinance on Fisheries, and the Customs Act. Wildlife smuggling not only threatens the species being trafficked but also the entire ecosystem. When one group of species is overhunted, it triggers a domino effect, disrupting the whole food chain. Since sharks are at the top of the food chain, a decline in their populations can result in an increase in their prey, which can throw off the balance of other marine species. What's worse, selling shark fins raises numerous ethical concerns. Hunters will often cut off a shark's fin and throw the creature back into the ocean. Without their fins, the sharks either drown or slowly bleed to death. Thailand has escalated its initiatives to seize and stop wildlife trafficking. According to The Nation, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra gave directives to the Thai Customs Department to address the crisis. The seizure of the shark fins is a reflection of the country's efforts to combat wildlife trafficking. Which of these groups has the biggest role to play in reducing food waste? Grocery stores Restaurants Individuals The government Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "This is a clear message that Thailand will not be a transit point for illegal wildlife trade," Pantong Loykulnant, advisor on tax development and administration and spokesperson for the department, told The Nation. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
The Star
04-05-2025
- The Star
Thai Customs seizes over 400 shark fins smuggled through Suvarnabhumi Airport
BANGKOK: The Thai Customs Department has ramped up efforts to crack down on illegal smuggling following directives from Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, with a major seizure of shark fins this week highlighting the scale of the issue. Pantong Loykulnant, Advisor on Tax Development and Administration and spokesperson for the department, said the latest operation was part of a broader policy push to tighten control over imports and exports—particularly those involving dutiable, illegal, prohibited, or restricted goods. Acting on intelligence from the Anti-Smuggling Bureau under China's General Administration of Customs (GACC), which warned of shipments potentially breaching the international CITES convention (regulating endangered species trade), Thai authorities launched an investigation. On May 1, a coordinated raid at Suvarnabhumi Airport's bonded warehouse led to the seizure of a suspicious shipment labelLed 'DRY FISH.' The cargo had originated from Trinidad and Tobago, transited through China, and was en route to Thailand. Upon inspection, officials discovered 402 pieces of shark fins, weighing around 102kg and estimated to be worth over 2 million baht. The operation was a joint effort by the Customs Department's Enforcement Division, Suvarnabhumi Customs Office, Department of Fisheries, the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division, and Thai Airways. According to the Customs Department, the import of these fins violates several Thai laws: Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act (2019) – for bringing in protected animal remains without permission. Animal Epidemics Act (2015) – for importing animal remains illegally. Royal Ordinance on Fisheries (2015) – for lack of proper certification and import permits for aquatic animal parts. Customs Act (2017) – for smuggling restricted items into the country. The confiscated items have been handed over to the Fisheries Inspection Post at Suvarnabhumi Airport, and the case has been forwarded to police investigators for legal action. 'This is a clear message that Thailand will not be a transit point for illegal wildlife trade,' said Pantong. - The Nation/ANN
