Caution at bangkok airport!

[dotcom_OD 0]

The big issue is the quality of the tobacco sold in Thailand. If you are lucky to find Prince cigarettes which come from Germany, I believe ( I happen to try it from a friend), they are sold in corner stores, they are not bad.

But for the most part the cigarettes sold in Thailand are made in the Philippines whether they are Marlboro, or any other major brand, filter and/or menthols.

The duty free cigarettes have far superior grade tobacco leaves.

 

Of course we will all die in due time, whatsoever brand it is!!!

[Guest Winston_Churchill]

It was me i had 1000 superkings for my own use,i was stopped in the car park by 4 customs officers i was taken back into the airport customs office then taken into bkk customs head office there was lots of paperwork filled in and i was given receipts for the fine which was £230 and all ciggys were confiscated,i prefer my own ciggys in thailand.the whole thing lasted approx 4 hours as lazza has already said,and i couldn't give a fuck it never bothered me it's all part of lifes learning curve

[alesypalsy 0]

Taught me an all winston, I wont be taking in ciggies again! I learnt the £2200 way so fuck it, I aint interested in doing that again, But fuck me it wasnt the first time i had done it but will defo be the last

[leemo 0]

Being stopped in the car park is a definite scam!!!!  there is no way "real" customs would do that, they are either off duty or impersonators, as happened to the old guy here in Pattaya a few weeks ago, when "immigration" caught him. If this happened to me I would say fine, lets go back inside to your boss, and get proper receipt etc.

Not sure about LoS customs, but as of 6 years ago and there's no reason to suspect it has since changed, UK bods could confront you anywhere, in or out of the terminal, on your way or at home, even beyond and several days later.

 

For example, if they suspect you of naughties they might let you through to see who you meet, and then pick you off at their leisure, or if they think you're acting suspicious or trying to shake off a tail.

 

Also, though customs is virtually ineffective in the fight against high end trafficking of almost every commodity (i.e. if you want to bring it in badly enough, you can), don't kid yourself that they ain't on the ball at the lower levels.

 

 

leemo

Edited February 25, 2006 by leemo

[upena 2]

I have been going to Thailand for 33 years and have never, ever been stopped at customs...and always, always bring in cigarettes - usually 6 - 10 cartons depending on how long I am staying for - i dont flaunt a duty free bag - they are in my suitcase - and I dont buy any at BKK - they dont have my brand.

 

and the reason I bring them from the states is they dont have my brand in Thailand....most of the time i wind up with a carton or two left over and bring them back home and have had US customs check me...and have told them that I bought them in US and took them to Thailand and brought them back...so far...no problems.

 

I think we need to differentiate between:

 

1. those coming to Thailand who actually live there - whether Thai or falang

2. those going through Thailand and just doing a layover - carrying oodles of ciggies

3. those coming to Thailand for a vacation - bringing enough for the trip (even though over the 200 cigarettes (one carton) linit)

 

Folks going through here in Hawaii to somewhwhere else in the US get treated differently than those of us who live here (we get scrutinized more)...and by the same token...those that are tourists coming here for a week or two get the quick once over from customs

[cowboy 0]

Hi,

Above post makes sense regards walking through any customs with duty free bags on display.Its a complete  no no, but in 112 rotations at Don Maung I've yet to ever SEE a customs officer , in or out !!

 

Chivas

Chivas,

I'd suggest you look more closely. In the last 4 years in more than 25 trips I alway see customs officers. Many of them do not where uniforms but are in plain clothes. They will walk beside you and they stand around in the arrival area just outside the doors as well as inside the doors. some nights at 11:30 at night I have seen 10 or more of them. They are watching.

 

 

But they are pretty good guys. I went up to the something to declare counter. after about a minute 2 officers showed up. They asked me what I wanted. I told them I had excess liquor to declare and pay duty on. They asked how much and I said 7 liters. in 10 bottles. They asked what for and I told them it was for a freinds birthday party. They laughed and waived me through.

Edited February 25, 2006 by cowboy

[redwood13 56]

Where's the first place an arrival is likely to light up a smoke at Don Muang? Would it be the car park? The car park which seems to be a favorite spot for customs to bust folks for excess cigarettes. Maybe just a simple case of profiling?

 

The uncle of a friend of mine arrived from UK and got done there last week. Cost him 15K baht to make the problem go away and of course he lost the cigs.

 

-redwood

[vanhalen 0]

Reading this thread with interest.

 

It still is a really shite start to the holiday to be busted for such a petty crime, sorry for all that this has happened to.

 

I can get my hand rolling tobacco (drum, 170 baht 50 grammes) at the chemist top of soi 3 (sukhumvit BKK) if anyone is interested and saves them from running the risk.

 

In fact from memory ... all hand rolling brands are available in this shop.

Edited February 26, 2006 by vanhalen