Brazilian Federal Police Bust Underground E-Cigarette Lab in Minas Gerais

Regulations by 2FIRSTS.ai
Mar.28.2024
Brazilian Federal Police Bust Underground E-Cigarette Lab in Minas Gerais
Brazilian authorities shut down an underground e-cigarette lab in Minas Gerais, with over 130,000 smuggled devices seized in 2023.

According to Brazilian media g1.globo, Brazil's national regulatory agency Anvisa has banned the production and sale of e-cigarettes since 2009. Despite this, the number of cases of e-cigarette smuggling in the country has been increasing, with over 1.3 million smuggled in 2023.

 

Recently, the Federal Police in Brazil shut down an underground laboratory producing e-cigarette raw materials in the state of Minas Gerais.

 

In a high-end apartment in the city center, police discovered hundreds of refill pods for e-cigarettes and bottles filled with e-cigarette liquid. "Because it is produced underground without any regulation, it may introduce unknown ingredients. It often contains more nicotine and possibly other substances that can enter the lungs when heated," said federal crime expert Marcelo Lasmar.

 

Some of the materials have been sent to the Brazilian Federal Police for identification. One large drum contained nicotine, while another contained pyridine, and various bottles held fragrances. All of these substances were haphazardly mixed together by the individuals arrested at the laboratory.

 

He simply found a recipe online, mixed it together, and started selling it. He had no idea what kind of impact this could have.

 

The police also found $3000 in the suspect's apartment, and the suspect will be held accountable for their smuggling crimes.

 

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