The government has continuously intensified its crackdown on illegal excise goods, with "illicit cigarettes" being the most frequent cases. In the first nine months of fiscal year 2026, nearly 30,000 cases were seized, with total fines reaching 4.2 billion baht. In June alone, 3,104 cases were recorded.
On 4 July 2026, Ms. Ploytale Lakshmisangchan, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, revealed that the government is advancing efforts to intensify measures to prevent and combat illegal excise goods strictly nationwide after discovering that "illicit cigarettes" remain the number one illegal excise product, with a growing trend of smuggling and distribution through increasingly complex networks, including the use of border areas and natural transport routes, as well as residences or rental houses as storage locations to await distribution to retailers. This directly affects the state's tax revenue, compliant businesses, and economic fairness.
Ms. Ploytale further stated that the results of nationwide enforcement against excise law violations during the first nine months of fiscal year 2026 (October 2025 - June 2026) show that the Excise Department has seized a total of 29,411 cases, with fines totaling over 817.01 million baht and estimated total fines exceeding 4,282.14 million baht.
In June 2026 alone, 3,104 cases were seized, with fines exceeding 73.63 million baht. Among these, tobacco-related cases were the highest at 1,993 cases, representing about 64% of all cases. This indicates that the problem of illicit cigarettes remains a significant challenge for current excise law enforcement. Key cases detected in June show that the main surveillance areas continue to be border provinces and important transport routes, especially in the southern region.
"Arrest data shows that tax evasion networks have become more systematic, adapting their illegal methods to avoid official scrutiny, such as by dividing storage points or using risky border areas as transit points for goods entering the country. The government emphasizes integrating efforts in data, intelligence, and joint operations across multiple agencies, including security forces, the Customs Department, and the Royal Thai Police, to enhance efficiency in intercepting smuggling from start to finish. This approach will help reduce economic damage, promote fairness in the tax system, and effectively protect the nation's interests."