The impact of daily smuggling of consumer products a long the Thai-Malay border on economic, social, and national security
ผลกระทบทางเศรษฐกิจ สังคม และความมั่งคงระหว่างประเทศของการลักลอบขนสินค้า รายย่อยตามแนวชายแดนไทย-มาเลเซีย

Surachate Chirahmanee, Assoc. Prof., D. of Public Ad., F. of Management Sci., PSU.
Somchart Juliratchaneekorn, D. of Business Ad., F. of Management Sci., PSU.
Patana Ruendjaidee, D. of Public Ad., F. of Management Sci., PSU.

Grant : IMT-GT Studies Center, PSU.
Published : Research Report
Key words : impact, economic, social, national security daily smuggling, Thai-Malay border

Small Scale Border Trade Smuggling Operation Between Thailand and Malaysia - An Emphasis on Economic, Social and an International Security Impacts
The objectives of the study were to examine the following issues:
1. To Study and analyze the impact small scale border trade smuggling with an emphasis on economic, social and an international security impacts.
2. To propose an appropriate guideline for government concerned in order to improve the quality and relevance problems and impacts
The study area covers the 4 provinces ie, Yala, Satun, Songkhla and Narathiwat forming a border of approximately 647 kilometers. The research methodology employed is the investigation of smuggling operation impacts draw from a 217 samples gathering of information from the sampling units which classified into two categories, (1) by interviewing each smuggler employed the border trade operators - daily wage is paid for carrying of goods, a hence information were drawn from a total 123 sugglers, mode of transport of goods by motorcyle, small boat paddling crossing border river, climbed across the wall/border fence; an interviewing of government officials, ie. customs and immigration officers and others related were also included information drawn from a 32 samples. (2) Focus-group interviews, the method was used in order to gain exploratory research information. The focus groups consist of 3 groups which drawn from each province, they were government officials, community leaders and experienced employed smugglers a minimum of 3 representatives from each group. A total of 62 respondents were brought together in the focus groups.
A summary of the findings is as follows;
1. Employed smugglers - respondents 
	    Sex
	    	Male				84   percent
		Female			16   percent
		Age rang 31-40 old 	41   percent
		Education - Completed compulsory education   65   percent
Respondents economic data deemed that employed smuggling as a main occupation 63 percent, and reason of entry based on monetary motivation 71 percent, employers' fringe benefit 18 percent, necessary knowledge was foreign lanquage ie., Malay 44 percent, intention of switching to other occupation 54 percent, land ownership 55 percent, respondents annual family expenses of 5 persons were : 264,143 baht of Songkhla province, 116,157 baht of Narathiwat province, 99,862 baht of Yala province and 97,427 baht of Satun province respectively.
2. Social data of respondents - "employed smugglers" were long-time local residents 58 percent, social participation and interaction 90 percent, inclined to preserve public domain 75 percent, political participation at all level 88 percent, external mass media that respondents exposed to are television, newspapers, and radios.
The study also revealed bothe the positice and negative impacts which entail the follwing:
1. Economic impacts
1.1 positive impacts included job generating for 1,071 persons, total revenue was 94 million baht, domestic tourist attraction to border provinces in order to shop, estimated export of 5,706 million baht annually.
1.2 Negative impacts included a trade degicit of 22,967 million baht per year, tax ans excise tax revenue deficit of 16,622.9 million baht per year; negative impact on economic sectors succh as palm oil industry, bread and biscuit factory, garlic and onion plantation
2. Social impacts
2.1 Position impacts included employment of 354 persons who were unemployed due to country's economic downturn
2.2 Negative impacts included the creating conflicts between government officials whose duties were to enforce law and order and smugglers, drug addicted and unemployment
3. International security impacts - The study revealed that employers had not involved in the international security, hence no negative impacts.
The research recommendation proposed the structure systems aiming to improve the export-import tax differentiation, tax exemption, national champaign "Thai by Thai" New job creation along border provinces government agency should seek consultation from Mulim leaders, Customs formality and procedenes must be improved in narious aspects including the introduction of electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and experienced customs brokers to render their customs formality services.
BACK