Thailand seizes over 10,000 illegal vapes

Thai authorities have arrested eight suspects and confiscated more than 10,000 e-cigarette and vaping devices in a raid near Ramkhamhaeng University in Bangkok (Photo: The Nation)

Bangkok – Thai authorities have arrested eight suspects and confiscated more than 10,000 e-cigarette and vaping devices in a raid at Number One market near Ramkhamhaeng University (Bangna Campus) in Bangkok.

The campaign, dubbed “Vape Operation”, is a collaboration between the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) and the Royal Thai Police to crack down on sellers of e-cigarette and vaping devices near schools and colleges in the capital, said Puangpetch Chunla-ead, Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, who led the operation, on March 6.

The market, which is surrounded by student dorms, is well known for e-cigarette and vaping devices, prompting the OCPB to launch the campaign to stop the selling of illegal items to students and underaged persons.

Investigators found e-cigarette and vaping devices being sold at 14 stalls in the market and arrested eight sellers, as well as confiscated nearly 6,000 vaping items found in these shops. They also tracked down the distribution network of these sellers to a factory in Din Daeng district and seized some 4,000 items. The total value of the confiscated items is estimated at over 3 million THB (about 84,000 USD).

Puangpetch underlined the threat of e-cigarettes on Thai adolescents as these devices can be easily purchased from shops near schools and colleges, while some students even buy them in bulk to resale to their friends. The minister urged parents to closely monitor the behaviours of their children, and report any unusual activities to the OCBD at hotline 1166, website OCPB.go.th, or the Traffy Fondue application.

Thailand banned imports of e-cigarettes and vaping devices, including baraku and electronic baraku smoking devices in 2014. Sellers could face up to three years in prison and/or a 60,000 THB fine, while smugglers could face up to 10 years in prison and/or up to 500,000 THB in fines.

Over 10 million Thais require medical treatment because of air pollution in 2023 Thailand’s National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) has warned that the government must do more to tackle air pollution as more than 10 million people in the country required treatment for pollution-related health problems in 2023.

Thai players solidify position as top investor Thailand’s dynamic engagement in Vietnam, ranging from banking and finance to food and beverages, is strategically driven by shared cultural affinities, favourable demographics, and strong economic prospects.