Customs control at Suvarnabhumi Airport
When I was in the navy, you could buy duty-free cigarettes on board when you traveled abroad. I remember a trip with a large squadron to Lisbon, among others, and of course everyone had bought at least two cartons of cigarettes.
We knew that customs would come on board on arrival and that you ran the risk of losing the cigarettes (more than one carton). All possible storage places on board were used to hide cigarettes. Customs usually found something, but with a bit of luck you stayed out of harm's way and you could take two or more slippers home.
Or not? After arrival, we went by train with only marines from Den Helder to Amsterdam and it was possible to get checked by investigating customs officers both on the way to the station and in the train. There too, some Jantjes were screwed and lost their cigarettes.
S
I was reminded of that when I experienced something similar at the airport yesterday. A good friend brought me cigars, as he often did in the past, but he didn't come to Pattaya this time. He had a connecting flight with his Thai wife to Khon Kaen and so I had to take over the cigars from him upon arrival.
We met and I suggested we do the handover in a quiet place, because “you never know who is watching”. Importing the cigars was completely legal, but with Thai customs officers you never know for sure, we both thought. I originally planned to take him to the car park, he had quite a bit of luggage so we decided to go outside. Nothing to worry about, no one around and my friend opened the suitcases to take out the boxes of cigars. Sure enough, two curious young customs officers came to take a closer look.
All's well that ends well
They were very friendly, all suitcases and bags were checked. Of course they saw the boxes of cigars and it was explained to them that they were intended for me “as a gift”. They were not really interested in those cigars because, they said, the control is mainly intended to detect other contraband (drugs, weapons, etc.). Of course they did not find it and the customs officers said goodbye and wished us a pleasant day!
All's well that ends well. My boyfriend and his wife were on their way to their next domestic flight and I returned to Pattaya with my cigars.
Someone to bring you real Cuban Cohibas, Bert. Be careful with your friend and smoking material!
Hans, a Cuban or – even better – Nicaraguan cigar is not for me. The structure of the inside of those cigars – rolled leaves – is fundamentally different from European cigars.
For me, the European cigar, which smokes more easily, is the only one.
My cigar fits in the line of Justus van Maurik, Oud Kampen, Balmoral, Compaenen, etc. with the difference that mine is probably the last hand-made cigar in the Netherlands, made by a very experienced cigar maker somewhere in the Veluwe. .
Incidentally, I am very happy with my network of cigar couriers, who provide a constant supply from the Netherlands.
The relentless battle between the short-filler from NL and the long-filler from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nicaragua. Everyone has their own preference, but in tropical countries I prefer to smoke a long filler. It won't break in your shirt pocket.
If you want me to bring you a box next time...? I'm also going to Pattaya .. (no date known yet, but hopefully soon)
A friend of mine from the Netherlands brought me a good tobacco pipe that I had ordered because the little bit that is for sale here in this area falls under the category of dredging (made in China). He himself had too much rolling tobacco with him, which, by the way, is for sale in the well-known places here. He was picked out for inspection and had to hand in everything, including the part that you can enter and then also received a fine of (don't be alarmed) 20.000 baht. Expensive smoke!
last month two friends both two slippers and 2 boxes of cigars fine 500 euros per person so don't bring too much
A well-known story Bert about those cigarettes that could be bought tax-free on board naval ships. On board a minesweeper, to avoid detection of an excess of Camel slippers, I had hidden them in the power section of a transmitter. Too bad I hadn't realized that the (then) gold-colored packaging of those Camel slippers apparently conducted electricity and the cigarettes without a lighter nearby started to scorch when I turned on the transmitter. Fortunately I was able to prevent a fire, but the radio-radar technician looked very suspicious at the damage, of which I obviously had no idea how it had arisen. If I see (and almost smell) that box of beautiful cigars of yours, I would also like to light one up. But yes, after more than 40 years of heavy Van Nelle, I stopped “cold turkey” in 2013 and now to start again…..I don't even dare to take one hit because once a smoker, always a smoker.
I really wonder what the chances are of being detained for checking on Suvarnabhumi.
Arrived at least 25 times and never checked, in fact, I don't even see them. Also never see others being controlled.
What are your experiences?
Regards Joy
Checked 1x in BKK and happened to have a bottle of extra drink in my bag, local drink from the Netherlands for someone as a gift, but with very little value.
No problem and I was allowed to continue.
Never checked for Suvernambhumi further. I land at Suvernambhumi on average 8-10 times a year.
In many places it seems as if the customs control is accidental, but it is usually not. Baggage is already scanned before it comes on the belt at most airports and sniffed by dogs etc for traces of drugs, among other things. Just pay attention to the following, customs always take a look at your suitcase or bag. If they know that there is something in it, they have long since learned the characteristics of your suitcase or bag. You can also notice it by the time period. In Amsterdam it can sometimes even take 30-45 minutes before your suitcase is on the belt. Guess where is your suitcase during that time. If a 777 is unloaded at a local airport in Thailand, it is a matter of 5-10 minutes. And driving around Schiphol takes less than half an hour.
That one time I was stopped at Suvernambhumi, they just knew, can't miss it. Otherwise it would be very coincidental, since I never take tax-free items with me to Thailand.
In many European countries and the US they then do a random check of 1 to as many. That is purely to show that they are present and as a deterrent.
Same with metal detectors and body scanners. They just give a false signal 10% of the time. Pay particular attention to the body scan, which suddenly detects metal in a place where it is impossible for God, for example on the forearms while you are not wearing a watch or wearing short sleeves, etc. It is also purely deterrent and show. That technology is already so advanced and sensitive that a false positive hardly ever occurs.
Furthermore, I think that in the case of Thailand, people are just paying less attention to the fact that there is actually almost no reason to take tax-free stuff with you. Cigarettes etc I always take with me from Thailand, but in the opposite direction cigarettes at the Makro are twice as cheap as those rip-offs in the Taxfree at Schiphol. As standard I have an extra slipper with me towards Europe, occasionally you get caught but usually not, just remains a game.
Checked for the first time last year. I arrived with the cart, only the top two suitcases went through the scanner, the third one didn't. So put your cigars in the lower case.
In Chiang Mai, everyone's suitcases, including hand luggage, go through the scanner, so be warned.