Abstract:
The purpose of this research was to study the problem situation and measures to solve the smuggling of illegal cigarettes at the Thai-Cambodian border in the eastern provinces. The integrated research method was as follows: a quantitative research method was questionnaires from the sample groups of 395 people, divided into 3 border communities, Rong Kluea market, Sa Kaeo Province of 285 people, Thep Nimit Subdistrict, Chanthaburi Province of 59 people and Hat Lek Subdistrict, Trat Province of 51 people and analyzed with descriptive statistics and a qualitative research method was in-depth interviews and data triangulation. The results of the research were found that 1) problem situations and solutions to smuggling illegal cigarettes had agree level of overall, 2) the forms of smuggling illegal cigarettes were as follows: an army of ants, duty-free shops, border retail shops, cross-border landtransportation by of large carts and maritime transportation by fishing boats, 3) conditions for smuggling illegal cigarettes were as follows: excise tax structure in Thailand, economic and political changes in Cambodia, border channels, public perception and beliefs towards illegal cigarettes, benefits from the high-value illegal cigarette trade, law enforcement by government officials, and the growing demand for cheap cigarettes, and 4) proposals for policy measures to solve smuggling illegal cigarette were as follows: the roles of educational institutions, community leaders and local administration organizations, community and international cooperation networks, knowledge exchange between communities, participatory processes from the local people, religious, and the creation of political, social, tax, and legal measures and mechanisms.