UK urged to help with car-smuggling issue
The Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) yesterday met with the British Embassy's first secretary and British customs officials in Hong Kong to seek cooperation in controlling cars brought back from the UK by expatriate Thais.
Authorities believe that 14 of the 31 cars brought back by Thai nationals since 2008 might have been done so illegally, PACC chief Dusadee Arayawuth said.
He explained that many Thai expatriates abused their right to bring cars back home by falsely declaring the vehicle’s value in order to avoid paying tax and then selling the cars at 40 to 60 per cent below market price. For instance, a Bentley – which actually costs about Bt39 million – was declared as being worth Bt1.3 million, hence taxed Bt3.4 million and later sold at Bt6 million, Dusadee explained.
He added that some 60 new cars cross the borders every day and if people continue avoid taxes on these vehicles, it could cost the government at least Bt1.2 billion in lost income every month.
