The Chong Chom Customs office raided a famous foreign noodle cafe in central Korat, shocked to find smuggled ingredients without FDA approval and nearly half the stock close to expiration.
Mr. Prasit Deejongcharoen, Chief of Chong Chom Customs, revealed that the government prioritizes protecting society from undesirable products that could directly or indirectly harm the public. A key goal is to safeguard consumers from counterfeit goods, especially consumables that may threaten health and impose future medical costs on citizens. To ensure fairness for honest businesses, Customs Department Director-General Phanthong Loykulnan, Deputy Director Sunti Thawichaprasit, and Regional Customs Director Lalita Atthapimol instructed the Chong Chom Customs office, responsible for three provinces in southern Isan—Surin, Buriram, and Nakhon Ratchasima, a major economic hub—to strictly enforce government policies on product control.
Mr. Prasit added that following government directives, Chong Chom Customs has intensified surveillance of various illicit goods. This led to intelligence uncovering suspicious activities, which, supported by evidence, prompted them to request a search warrant from the Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Court. This enabled the raid and seizure of products from a well-known "foreign noodle cafe" in Nakhon Ratchasima province.
Mr. Prasit further explained that the shocking aspect of today's operation was that the large, popular cafe operates nearly 24 hours a day and has been in business for about three years, favored especially by local youth and young people. However, nearly 2,000 items of ingredients—including instant noodles, seasonings, drinks, desserts, and more—were smuggled in from abroad without customs clearance and lacked safety certification from the FDA. Nearly half the stock was close to expiration. It is unknown how much damage this has caused so far, but such irresponsibility poses a serious social threat.
"We want the people of southern Isan to be assured that we will continue to protect society from smuggled goods to safeguard the public, in line with government, Ministry of Finance, and Customs Department policies. I also urge citizens to carefully check for official certification marks such as TISI or FDA before buying products to consume or use, to ensure safety and protect the health and quality of life of your loved ones and yourself," Mr. Prasit concluded.
