Bureau Successful in Busting Large-scale Illegal E-cigarette Operation

Regulations by 2FIRSTS.ai
Dec.08.2023
Bureau Successful in Busting Large-scale Illegal E-cigarette Operation
Ukrainian authorities seize a large quantity of unmarked e-cigarette products worth 40 million hryvnias ($1.09 million) in multiple raids.

According to a report by Ukrainian media outlet Korrespondent, the Ukrainian Economic Security Bureau (Bureau of Economic Security, BES) has successfully seized a large quantity of unmarked consumer goods, including e-cigarette products worth 40 million hryvnias (approximately 7.8 million Chinese yuan).

Bureau Successful in Busting Large-scale Illegal E-cigarette Operation
Product seized | Image source: БЭБ

 

Investigation findings have revealed that a group of individuals in multiple regions of western Ukraine have been engaging in the illegal sale of e-cigarette liquids, e-cigarettes, and associated components produced by them. Detectives have conducted over 20 simultaneous searches, resulting in the seizure of more than 20,000 illicitly manufactured e-cigarettes, a substantial quantity of e-liquid for refilling, kits for mixing e-liquid, flavorings, and ink cartridges for mixing tobacco, with a total estimated value exceeding 40 million Ukrainian Hryvnias (equivalent to approximately 1.09 million US dollars).

 

Previously, БЭБ exposed a plan of illegal manufacturing and selling of industrial alcohol in the Kyiv region.

 

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

U.S. FDA posts TPSAC meeting materials ahead of discussion on ZYN MRTP applications
U.S. FDA posts TPSAC meeting materials ahead of discussion on ZYN MRTP applications
On January 20, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) posted meeting materials ahead of a virtual Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC) meeting scheduled for January 22, 2026, to discuss modified risk tobacco product (MRTP) applications submitted by Swedish Match USA, Inc. for 20 ZYN nicotine pouch products.
Jan.21 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Florida AG announces largest illegal vape seizure in state history, 2,183 contraband devices seized
Florida AG announces largest illegal vape seizure in state history, 2,183 contraband devices seized
Florida’s attorney general announced a record-breaking statewide enforcement push against illegal vaping products, with four joint operations seizing 2,183 contraband vapes and additional nitrous oxide-related items. Regulators also reported removing thousands of noncompliant products from store shelves, while investigations remain ongoing.
Feb.09 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Scientific talk in Bursa Nilüfer spotlights cigarette and e-cigarette addiction and youth risks
Scientific talk in Bursa Nilüfer spotlights cigarette and e-cigarette addiction and youth risks
Nilüfer Municipality in Bursa held a scientific talk titled “Does Addiction Change Form? Cigarettes, E-Cigarettes and Lung Health” as part of February 9 Quit Smoking Day, aiming to raise awareness of the social impact of tobacco addiction. Experts discussed cigarette and e-cigarette addiction, risks for young people, harms of secondhand smoke for children, and health outcomes linked to tobacco use.
Feb.10 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Russian's Stavropol court convicts four men over illegal sales of disposable vapes
Russian's Stavropol court convicts four men over illegal sales of disposable vapes
A court in Russia’s Stavropol region convicted four local residents of illegal sales of disposable vapes, with the seized products valued at more than 26 million rubles (about $338,000). The regional prosecutor’s office said the organized group operated from March 2022 to June 2023, selling disposable electronic vapes in Stavropol, Nevinnomyssk and Mikhaylovsk, while the products lacked mandatory information required by law.
Dec.31 by 2FIRSTS.ai
France drops a vaping clause from the 2026 finance bill after use of Article 49.3
France drops a vaping clause from the 2026 finance bill after use of Article 49.3
A provision in France’s 2026 finance bill intended to regulate vaping products was abandoned after Sébastien Lecornu used Article 49.3 on January 20 to commit the government’s responsibility on the “revenue” section of the state budget.
Jan.21 by 2FIRSTS.ai
PMI Faces Setback in India: Global Regulatory Fragmentation Complicates Its Smoke-Free Transition
PMI Faces Setback in India: Global Regulatory Fragmentation Complicates Its Smoke-Free Transition
India has reaffirmed its 2019 ban on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco devices, effectively blocking Philip Morris International (PMI) from launching IQOS in the country despite years of lobbying. Together with Taiwan, China’s conditional opening of heated tobacco products, and Japan’s planned 2026 excise tax hikes, these moves highlight increasingly divergent national regulatory pathways—an external uncertainty shaping PMI’s smoke-free growth trajectory.
Feb.12