Following prime minister Mr. Prayut Chan-o-policy cha’s to improve cooperation between relevant government agencies in detecting chemicals used to make narcotic precursors, Mr. Patchara Anuntasilpa, Director General of Thai Customs Department, has ordered Mr. Pongthep Buasap as Principal Advisor on Customs Control Development, Mrs. Nantita Sirikup as Deputy Director General, and Mr. Tawal Rodjit as Director of Enforcement Division.
Mr. Julapong Thaveesri as Director General of Department of Industrial Works, Mr. Suradej Trongsirivibool as Director of Laem Chabang Port Customs Office, Mr. Varis Visantanon as Expert on Cargo Inspection Techniques, Mr. Prasit Deejongcharoen as Director of Customs Control Section, Mr. Thitiphong Khumphuy as Director of Customs Service Section 1, and Mr. Setthawut Chantrawattana as Director of X-Ray and Technology were appointed on March 28, 2023.
Mr. Julapong stated that the importation, exportation, and transit of dangerous chemicals used in any industry require necessary permissions from Department of Industrial Works and other regulatory procedures to avoid smuggling to make drugs precursors.
Mr. Suradej stated that the Laem Chabang Port Customs Office inspected a transit declaration of hazardous chemical, category 3: Sulfuric acid, exported from India through Thailand to Myanmar and found that the relevant transit agent conducted customs procedure but did not submit the required category 3 hazardous chemical permit. Thus, the officers seized the transit goods for further investigation and filed an accusation that such conduct constitutes an offense for attempting to transit hazardous chemical substances in violation of Sections 244 and complies with Sections 252, 102, 104, 106 of the Customs Act, B.E.2560, in case of importation of prohibited goods into the Kingdom of Thailand, including Hazard Substances Act B.E 2535, the Notification of the Ministry of Department of Industry. 2556.
Mr. Prasit provided further details on the Laem Chabang Port Customs Office’s 2023 seizure statistics: 220,000 kgs of sodium cyanide tried to be exported to Myanmar. Moreover, investigators confiscated two import narcotics containers of poppy seeds totaling 26,000 kgs and dried Khat leaves weighing 5,600 kgs, valued at 112 million Baht.
