Cracking Down on Illicit Sales of Flavored E-cigarettes

Do you understand the meaning behind phrases like "fruit flavor, for the connoisseurs" and "the new electronic darling, you deserve to have it" in your social media feed? On October 1, 2022, the "Compulsory National Standard for e-cigarettes" and the "Regulations for the Management of e-cigarettes" were implemented, explicitly prohibiting the sale of flavored e-cigarettes other than tobacco flavor. However, some individuals continue to take risks by clinging to a sense of false hope.

Recently, the Nanhu Public Security Bureau in Zhejiang, under the unified command of the Provincial Food and Drug Environmental Investigation Detachment, successfully cracked down on a case involving the sale of counterfeit e-cigarettes as part of their summer security crackdown operation. They collaborated with the Jiaxing Public Security Bureau's Food and Drug Environmental Investigation Support Team and the Tobacco Monopoly Administration's Inspection Support Team. A total of six suspects were arrested, and two storage and two sales locations were dismantled. Over 30,000 counterfeit e-cigarette pods and over 10,000 cigarette rods were confiscated, with an initial estimated sales value of over 8 million yuan.

Hidden E-Cigarettes Sales on WeChat

Hello, is this the Tobacco Monopoly Bureau of Jiaxing City? I would like to report that there are people selling e-cigarettes in my social circle, with various styles and flavors available... In mid to late May this year, the Inspection Team of the Tobacco Bureau of Jiaxing City received a report that someone had purchased a fruit-flavored e-cigarette online but found something suspicious during use, suspecting a quality issue. As this could potentially involve criminal activities, on May 29, the tobacco inspection department handed over this information to the Nanhu Police.

After receiving a case transferred by the tobacco inspection department, we immediately set up a special task force to investigate the matter. Zhu Lipeng, the instructor of the Economic Crime and Food, Drug, and Environmental Crime Investigation Brigade of the Nanhu District Public Security Bureau, explained that currently, some self-media platforms have become the "main strongholds" for illegal activities related to tobacco. The methods used by the perpetrators are more concealed than before, making it even more difficult to obtain evidence and solve the cases.

According to clues provided by the tobacco investigation department, the special task force police gradually gained an understanding of the criminal activities of the gang through the analysis of a large amount of online and offline data. After more than two months of investigation and research, they were able to obtain basic information on the individuals involved and the criminal network structure. They successfully identified the main culprit, Bian, who was responsible for the gang's operations in Chongqing, including the sale of tobacco and recruitment of customers. Furthermore, they traced the supply chain back to his superior supplier, Wu, in Shenzhen.

6 Suspects Apprehended in Cross-provincial Raid

From August 22nd to 24th, the Nanhu police mobilized 16 officers and, together with the city tobacco inspection department, conducted simultaneous raids in Chongqing Jiulongpo and Shenzhen Bao'an. "During the preliminary investigation, we found that the suspects' transactions were highly secretive and they had a strong counter-surveillance awareness," said Chen Ni, the police officer in charge of the case. Chen Ni led the task force to Chongqing for the arrest operation. During the initial investigation phase, Chen Ni had conducted multiple field investigations in Chongqing and Shenzhen, becoming very familiar with the situation.

On August 22nd at noon, the specialized police unit successfully apprehended Bian and five other suspects, who were responsible for the WeChat sales operation, in a residential complex in Chongqing's Jiulongpo district. "I knew selling this was illegal, but there was a customer base and the profits were extremely high, so we secretly sold it on WeChat," confessed Bian. He admitted that he had originally operated an online store, selling local specialties from his hometown, but business was mediocre. However, by chance, he discovered the business opportunity of the fruit-flavored e-cigarette. Purchased for 20 to 30 yuan, depending on the item, it was sold for 60 to 70 yuan with a significant profit margin. As business skyrocketed, Bian hired several customer service representatives to handle daily sales on WeChat Moments, while he personally managed the procurement from locations such as Shenzhen.

Meanwhile, another team of police officers successfully apprehended suspect Wu in the Bao'an District of Shenzhen. However, when faced with questioning from the police, Wu only confessed to the crime of selling e-cigarettes to Bian, refusing to divulge any other information about himself. This refusal caused the investigation of the case to temporarily reach a deadlock.

People are bound to make mistakes, but what matters most is learning from them and turning over a new leaf." At 4 o'clock in the morning, veteran police officer Wang Xingjian from the arrest team engaged in a conversation with the criminal suspect Wu Mou in the interrogation room. Posing as a friendly chat, Wang delved into Wu's upbringing and family life, conducting a heartfelt conversation for over three hours. As a result of this heartfelt exchange, Wu eventually confessed the location of the storage warehouse for his e-cigarette supplies.

Currently, six suspects, including Bian and Wu, have been taken into custody by the Nanhu police on charges of selling counterfeit and inferior products. The case is currently under further investigation.