Section 248 — Circulating counterfeit foreign currency
English translation
Whoever brings into the Kingdom, or has in possession in order to circulate, counterfeit or altered currency of a foreign government shall be liable to imprisonment from one year to fifteen years and a fine from twenty thousand baht to three hundred thousand baht.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
This section is the foreign-currency counterpart to Sections 242 and 243: it reaches those who import counterfeit or altered foreign currency, or hold it with intent to circulate. The elements are either importation into the Kingdom or possession, plus a purpose to circulate, and that the currency is counterfeit or altered foreign government money. The Supreme Court has held that possessing counterfeit foreign banknotes for circulation is a separate offence from any related fraud, because the two involve different criminal intents. It carries the same one to fifteen year range as counterfeiting foreign currency under Section 247.
Why this matters in practice
The prosecution must prove a purpose to circulate, not mere possession, along with the counterfeit or altered character of the foreign currency. Exposure is one to fifteen years plus a fine of 20,000 to 300,000 baht, and where fraud accompanies the passing of the notes it is generally charged as a separate offence, increasing overall exposure. Whether the accused intended to put the money into circulation is often the decisive issue. See our overview of fraud and scam laws in Thailand.
Supreme Court decisions interpreting this section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 901/2565 (2022)
Possessing counterfeit banknotes of a foreign government for circulation is a separate offence from any accompanying fraud, because the two acts involve different criminal intents.
The defendant and others held counterfeit euro banknotes of a foreign government for circulation and also committed fraud. The Court held that possessing the counterfeit foreign banknotes for circulation was a separate offence from the fraud, as the two involved different criminal intents, and the charges included Section 248.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 3986/2564 (2021)
Keeping a large quantity of counterfeit foreign banknotes at home in a state ready to be used or passed to others constitutes possessing them for circulation under the currency offences.
The defendant kept many counterfeit foreign banknotes at home, ready to use or hand to others, and displayed them to an undercover officer. The Court held this amounted to possessing counterfeit currency for circulation.
Curated decisions with case numbers verified against the Supreme Court database. English renderings are the firm's editorial translation for study.
Frequently asked questions
What does Section 248 punish?
Bringing counterfeit or altered foreign currency into Thailand, or possessing it in order to circulate it, punishable by one to fifteen years in prison and a fine of 20,000 to 300,000 baht.
Is possessing counterfeit foreign notes separate from fraud?
Yes. The Supreme Court has held that possessing counterfeit foreign currency for circulation is a distinct offence from any related fraud, because the two involve different intents.