Authorities seized 349,000 packs of untaxed cigarettes, worth about 31.4 million baht, during a raid on an abandoned house in Tak Bai district, Narathiwat, on Monday.
The joint operation was carried out by provincial police and excise officers at the house in Village 3 of tambon Sala Mai.
The seized cigarettes amounted to 698 cartons and represented more than 21.9 million baht in unpaid excise tax. The estimated fines exceed 328 million baht.
Thai officials are investigating possible links between the latest seizure and another major confiscation of smuggled cigarettes on Aug 7 in a nearby area. Investigators are examining whether the two storage sites were connected to the same smuggling network.
According to the Excise Department, illegal cigarettes remained the most seized excise goods during the first nine months of fiscal 2026.
Citing data from the Excise Department, 29,411 excise-law violations were recorded nationwide between October 2025 and June 2026, resulting in fines totalling 817 million baht. In June alone, authorities made 3,104 arrests, with fines amounting to 73.6 million baht. Tobacco offenses accounted for 1,993 cases, or about 64% of the monthly total.
Illegal cigarettes remained Thailand’s most prevalent excise-related offence. Key surveillance areas included border provinces and major transport routes, particularly in the South.