Longer-term goal is to eliminate century-old bounty payments from seizures for all staff
Customs Department staff attend a briefing on seizures of illegal goods in December 2025. In the fourth quarter of last year, authorities recorded 510 major cases that resulted in losses to the state of 1.65 billion baht. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)
The Customs Department is cancelling reward money for its executives from seizures of smuggled goods and imports that violate tariffs to prevent conflicts of interest, says director-general Phantong Loykulnanta.The Ministry of Finance has finished the draft of the amended regulations on rewards to executives. The legislation will take effect immediately after publication in the Royal Gazette.
The next step will be to revoke the century-old practice of rewards for all levels of customs officials, Mr Phantong said, ensuring enforcement adheres to governance and transparency principles, while bolstering public confidence.
The change aligns with the recommendations of the government and the National Anti-Corruption Commission, which proposed the department review the reward system of law enforcement agencies.
