Exporting Buddha Images Illegal?

[PattayaFanatic]

I just read that exporting Buddha images from Thailand is Illegal.Saw that here.

 

http://www.thaisnitch.com/customs-import-and-export-for-thailand/customs-rules-when-entering-and-departing-thailand

 

"It is illegal to take or send out of Thailand restricted and/or prohibited items e.g. Buddha images, protected wildlives, illegal drugs, faked notes and coins, obscene items, pornography etc. Customs will seize any of restricted/prohibited items. If outbound passengers convict any of these offences, you will be subject to fine and imprisonment. Moreover, please know the currency limitation."

 

Has anyone taken any Buddha statues or framed images out without any problems?

Edited June 2, 2011 by PattayaFanatic

[papasan]

Good timing for this question I was thinking the same thing today. Over the time I have been here I have accumulated quite a few budda amulets. They have been presents from friends or gifts etc. Today I looked at them and I have over 10 of them I was wondering also if I can take them out of the country. So I hope you get good feed back on this. Just sorry I couldnot answer your question.

[paultain]

Several times I have taken Buddha images out of Thailand, and always wear my amulets, and had no problems, as I know the law.

 

One time I took 4 large Buddha images in a carry on bag, and when the bag went through the x-ray machine I knew there would be a commotion, and waited on it.

 

Sure enough a lot of extra custom & airport security guys came out of the wood work, and all gathered around me, and asked me to open my bag. Smiling as I was expecting this, I asked "What you think, I got a bomb or something?" "No we are not interested in that, but the x-ray shows you have Buddha images in your bag, and we need to take a look at them!"

 

I took them out and they inspected them, wile I told them where I got them, which was from the temple in Naklua. As they looked at them, saying I was right, as it shows up on the images. They couldn't do anything, because they were NEW!

 

They are really after the guys that smuggle antique Buddha images, that are worth millions, and that law is really for that purpose. Thais and Buddhists are living all over the world, and always want to have a Buddha image in their home no matter where they may be, and no one can stop them from doing that. Only if the Buddha image in question, is listed as a valuable antique, then they may have objections of it leaving the country.

 

So if you want to take a new proper, and blessed by the monks Buddha image, you are aloud to do so, and cannot stop you.

 

Amulets - can be listed as valuable and worth millions also. Personally I wear around my neck one that is hitting that mark, that was given to me 30 years ago, but I freely display it to these guys as I wear it. As it would be against their religion, and give them bad merit, to try to remove it from me.

 

So in answer to this question...... Yes! you can take Buddha images out of Thailand........ Just make sure they are not listed antiques, or you suspect them to be very old. New ones are OK (even a few years old), and you can tell them you are a Buddhist, and you need it for your home, or you are bringing a few for some Thai friends that is living back in your country.

 

There are cases when some Thai wives living outside Thailand with their farang husbands may take a Buddha image back with them, that has been in their family for generations, not knowing it is listed as an antique, and might find trouble taking it out through customs. But Thai's usually know this, and hide it away in their luggage. But I doubt that any farang would normally come across these listed images, unless they were in the smuggling game.

Edited June 2, 2011 by paultain

[Dick Farang]

I just read that exporting Buddha images from Thailand is Illegal.Saw that here.

 

http://www.thaisnitch.com/customs-import-and-export-for-thailand/customs-rules-when-entering-and-departing-thailand

 

"It is illegal to take or send out of Thailand restricted and/or prohibited items e.g. Buddha images, protected wildlives, illegal drugs, faked notes and coins, obscene items, pornography etc. Customs will seize any of restricted/prohibited items. If outbound passengers convict any of these offences, you will be subject to fine and imprisonment. Moreover, please know the currency limitation."

 

Has anyone taken any Buddha statues or framed images out without any problems?

 

Once I have taken a Buddha statue for my wife, but she had written a letter (which I finally did not need) explaining in Thai that it was for her personal religious needs.

[PattayaFanatic]

I asked "What you think, I got a bomb or something?"

Don't ever say something like that in the USA or they'll quickly haul you off in handcuffs.

[worthy42]

Yup, dont wanna mention bombs in an airport, not even jokingly. Serious trouble will arise.

 

I just left los 2 weeks ago with some

Special amulets. But in samui airport, they were more worried about doing their nails. More strict in bkk.

 

I have one amulet i left with a few years ago that could have gotten me in some serious trouble as it "could" be worth a small fortune and is very old. But it blended in with all the other regular and new ones i had with me.

 

Never had any problems.

[Jade Snake]

I was prevented by post office staff in Chaiang Mai from posting Buddha images (which I had actually bought in Cambodia but didn't get around to sending from there) back home. Ended up putting them in my check-in luggage at BK and checking in at the very last minute. No problem.

[Sammy99]

i think buddha images is ok to bring out of Thailand

[Thailand Amulets]

It is possible to export a Buddha Image firstly, before i begin, may i define what a Buddha Image is any image of the Lord Buddha Sakyamuni is considered a Buddha Image Images of Devas (gods) and angelic beings or Ruesi, Monks etc are ok to send in post or take with you.

 

 

But if you wish to export a Buddha Image, you must go to the Grom Silapakorn (ministry of arts and culture) and register it. You can not send to someone else, but must address the statue to yourself

Meaning you can cojme here and send a parcel to yourself in your home country if oyu get a slip from the grom silapakorn for the customs.

It must be picked up by you and addressed to you.

 

I know this because i trade in amulets and Buddha statues and have to send abroad often

[BluTraveller]

Several times I have taken Buddha images out of Thailand, and always wear my amulets, and had no problems, as I know the law.

 

One time I took 4 large Buddha images in a carry on bag, and when the bag went through the x-ray machine I knew there would be a commotion, and waited on it.

 

Sure enough a lot of extra custom & airport security guys came out of the wood work, and all gathered around me, and asked me to open my bag. Smiling as I was expecting this, I asked "What you think, I got a bomb or something?" "No we are not interested in that, but the x-ray shows you have Buddha images in your bag, and we need to take a look at them!"

 

I took them out and they inspected them, wile I told them where I got them, which was from the temple in Naklua. As they looked at them, saying I was right, as it shows up on the images. They couldn't do anything, because they were NEW!

 

They are really after the guys that smuggle antique Buddha images, that are worth millions, and that law is really for that purpose. Thais and Buddhists are living all over the world, and always want to have a Buddha image in their home no matter where they may be, and no one can stop them from doing that. Only if the Buddha image in question, is listed as a valuable antique, then they may have objections of it leaving the country.

 

So if you want to take a new proper, and blessed by the monks Buddha image, you are aloud to do so, and cannot stop you.

 

Amulets - can be listed as valuable and worth millions also. Personally I wear around my neck one that is hitting that mark, that was given to me 30 years ago, but I freely display it to these guys as I wear it. As it would be against their religion, and give them bad merit, to try to remove it from me.

 

So in answer to this question...... Yes! you can take Buddha images out of Thailand........ Just make sure they are not listed antiques, or you suspect them to be very old. New ones are OK (even a few years old), and you can tell them you are a Buddhist, and you need it for your home, or you are bringing a few for some Thai friends that is living back in your country.

 

There are cases when some Thai wives living outside Thailand with their farang husbands may take a Buddha image back with them, that has been in their family for generations, not knowing it is listed as an antique, and might find trouble taking it out through customs. But Thai's usually know this, and hide it away in their luggage. But I doubt that any farang would normally come across these listed images, unless they were in the smuggling game.

 

Thanks for the info... Thought you were insaine with the bomb remark.... i was actually shaking my head left to right, when i read that bit