A border risk point arises as a trade facilitation zone may have become a channel for Cambodia to smuggle goods via Laos into Thailand, undercutting prices for domestic farmers.
What was intended as a trade facilitation point has turned into a risk zone to monitor. Cambodia is suspected of smuggling goods through the Lao PDR to enter Thailand. The SEE TRUE news team visited the trade facilitation point at the Thai-Laos riverside market in That Phanom District, Nakhon Phanom Province, which operates every Monday and Thursday.
Originally, this market served local villagers as a hub for traditional foods from both Thai and Lao communities, acting as an economic and cultural link across the Mekong. However, it is now under scrutiny as a potential route used by Cambodia to smuggle goods through Laos into Thailand, becoming a "transit point" for tax evasion operations?
The SEE TRUE team surveyed the surrounding trade facilitation area and encountered border patrol police inspecting goods about to cross into the Lao PDR. Permission was granted to join the inspection, which found no suspicious items. However, villagers informed the team that smuggling to avoid taxes does occur at this facilitation point.
A local villager revealed that the perpetrators operate like an army of ants, using people to carry sacks of goods such as mangoes and garlic around 4 a.m.
When asked whether these goods originated from Cambodia but are routed through Laos due to closed border checkpoints, the villager confirmed this. Traders then resell the goods, and for example, the arrival of Cambodian mangoes has caused prices to drop.
The news team found that this smuggling network often disguises itself as local villagers to evade taxes, prompting authorities to intensify inspections.
Lieutenant Sarawut Chantakam, commander of Border Patrol Police Company 2352, disclosed that officers seize goods two to three times monthly on market days. These include items like preserved mangoes, turmeric, and avocados, which come from Cambodia via Laos because direct Cambodian border checkpoints are inaccessible. Seized quantities are large and are stacked near boat docks, indicating clear intent to smuggle and evade taxes.
Beyond tax-evading goods, this area is also a hotspot for smuggling fuel across into the Lao PDR side.
Lieutenant Sarawut added that during the fuel price crisis, perpetrators used the 'army of ants' tactic: Lao individuals would buy fuel in gallon containers from pumps like ordinary customers, gather the fuel early in the morning before officials arrive, and then transport it to neighboring countries. Diesel prices in Laos are about 20 baht per liter higher than in Thailand. Seizures have included over 150 liters of diesel and gasoline combined.
"Fuel shortages persist domestically, and even a single liter found is confiscated because exporting fuel is illegal. We are responsible for securing the border, and every liter must be reserved for Thai consumption," he said.
After receiving information from villagers and officials that smuggling occurs around 3 to 4 a.m., the SEE TRUE team returned to conduct surveillance during that timeframe.
They observed over 100 Lao individuals bringing goods for sale, mostly consumer products and agricultural produce. During observation, authorities conducted inspections and found several Lao individuals secretly carrying fuel gallons.
Villagers explained that Lao people crossing over to sell goods sometimes bring fuel. Previously, Lao individuals would use three-wheeled vehicles to buy fuel at pumps, but tighter inspections have recently prevented successful smuggling.
Although today's strict inspections uncovered only some irregularities, the question remains whether these measures address symptoms rather than root causes. The That Phanom trade facilitation point by the Mekong may have become a loophole allowing Cambodian goods to enter Thailand without taxation, using Lao laborers, directly impacting Thai traders who bear higher costs and compete with cheaper products.
Today's enforcement may be merely a case of "locking the barn after the horse has bolted." The critical issue to resolve is closing the loopholes exploited by these smuggling networks, a challenge authorities must urgently address.
Follow #ExclusiveNews on the dynamic variety news program that investigates and reports from all areas, uncovering every truth every Saturday at 6 p.m. on Thairath TV Channel 32.