Footage from a surveillance camera at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport shows the official striding through a security check, fiercely objecting to being searched and then whacking the officer's ears. The official then pointed to his badge and the junior officer bowed apologetically.
The video has a Sunday time stamp and was posted Monday. By Tuesday it had attracted more than 5,000 angry comments.
Customs Department director-general Somchai Poolsavasdi said the official was transferred to an office job during an investigation into his "distressing" behavior. The department released only the official's first name, Sombat.
