Customs at Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport Crack down on Smuggling 30,000 Vapes

Regulations by 2FIRSTS.ai
May.16.2024
Customs at Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport Crack down on Smuggling 30,000 Vapes
Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport customs recently discovered a passenger smuggling excessive e-cigarette pods and cigarettes, totaling 30,000 items.

According to a recent report by Chao News, Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport Customs at the Hangzhou airport port intercepted a passenger attempting to smuggle an excessive amount of e-cigarette pods and cigarettes into the country. A total of 144 electronic pods, totaling 28,800 pieces, and 11 packs of cigarettes, totaling 2,200 sticks, were seized at the scene.

 

Recently, customs officers at Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport discovered abnormalities in the X-ray images of luggage belonging to a passenger who entered the country through the "nothing to declare" channel. Upon further inspection, it was found that the passenger was carrying electronic pods and cigarettes in their suitcases and handbags.

 

Customs reminds: cigarettes are items restricted from entering the country. Travelers from Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland residents traveling to Hong Kong or Macau for personal reasons can bring in 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, or 250 grams of tobacco without paying duty. Other travelers (excluding frequent travelers to Hong Kong or Macau, frequent cross-border travelers, and border residents) can bring in 400 cigarettes, 100 cigars, or 500 grams of tobacco duty-free. Before shopping overseas, travelers should be aware of the country's regulations on imported goods to avoid committing illegal acts, or even smuggling crimes.

 

In addition, according to the General Administration of Customs' Announcement No. 102 of 2022, passengers entering the country can carry 2 tobacco products duty-free; e-cigarette pods (liquid atomized substances) or combination products sold with pods and tobacco (including disposable e-cigarettes) up to 6, with a total e-liquid capacity not exceeding 12 milliliters. Passengers traveling to and from Hong Kong and Macau can carry 1 tobacco product duty-free; e-cigarette pods (liquid atomized substances) or combination products sold with pods and tobacco (including disposable e-cigarettes) up to 3, with a total e-liquid capacity not exceeding 6 milliliters. E-cigarettes without marked e-liquid capacity are prohibited from being carried into the country. Passengers under 16 years old are prohibited from carrying e-cigarettes into the country. If passengers exceed the specified quantity or capacity when carrying e-cigarettes into the country, customs will take legal action.

 

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

KT&G’s Lil Strengthens Market Lead in Korea as Heated Tobacco Share Reaches 47.4%
KT&G’s Lil Strengthens Market Lead in Korea as Heated Tobacco Share Reaches 47.4%
According to South Korea’s UpKorea, KT&G’s heated tobacco brand Lil reached a 47.4% share of Korea’s heated tobacco stick market in the first quarter of 2026. The company is expanding its next-generation products (NGP) business through product development, technology investment and overseas growth. KT&G reported NGP sales of 890.1 billion won (approximately US$650 million) in 2025, up significantly from 279.3 billion won in 2020. Lil products are now available in 34 markets, while KT&G continues building its technology portfolio through patents and multiple product platforms.
Jul.23
Haypp Report Shows Nicotine Pouches Gaining Ground as a Vape Alternative in the UK
Haypp Report Shows Nicotine Pouches Gaining Ground as a Vape Alternative in the UK
According to Haypp’s 2026 UK Nicotine Report, nicotine pouches are increasingly replacing both cigarettes and vaping. The UK market grew sharply, with Haypp and Northerner reporting a 60% year‑on‑year sales increase in 2025. Notably, 40% of users adopted pouches to quit vaping, nearly matching the 43% who used them to stop smoking. This indicates pouches are expanding beyond traditional smoking cessation and gaining traction among adults seeking non‑inhalable nicotine alternatives.
Jul.01
Putin Signs Russia’s Tobacco and Nicotine Product Licensing Law, Banning Unlicensed Sales From 2027
Putin Signs Russia’s Tobacco and Nicotine Product Licensing Law, Banning Unlicensed Sales From 2027
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law introducing mandatory licensing for wholesale and retail trade in tobacco and nicotine-containing products, with the system taking effect on October 1, 2026, and unlicensed operations banned from March 1, 2027, while vape and e-liquid retail may also face uncertainty from temporary regional sales-ban powers.
Jul.01
How AI Is Rewriting the Talent Playbook for the Nicotine Industry: JTI’s Case
How AI Is Rewriting the Talent Playbook for the Nicotine Industry: JTI’s Case
AI is moving from a back-office tool to a core organizational capability in the nicotine industry. Based on JTI’s responses, this 2Firsts feature examines how AI is reshaping talent strategy, internal mobility, decision-making and human accountability as global tobacco companies compete in the shift toward new nicotine categories.
Jun.17
Special Report | China Opens Draft Mandatory Heated Cigarette Standard for Comment, Multiple Heating Technologies Remain in Scope
Special Report | China Opens Draft Mandatory Heated Cigarette Standard for Comment, Multiple Heating Technologies Remain in Scope
China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA) has released a draft mandatory national standard for heated cigarettes, setting out detailed requirements for tobacco sticks, heating devices and aerosols. The proposal treats the stick and device as parts of the same product system, focuses on minimum safety and quality requirements, and leaves several heating architectures within scope.
Special Report
Jul.29
From Heating Blades to Heating Paper? CTHB Patent Points to Microwave Heated Tobacco Design
From Heating Blades to Heating Paper? CTHB Patent Points to Microwave Heated Tobacco Design
According to China’s patent office records, a patent owned by China Tobacco Hubei Industrial Corporation (CTHB) for “cigarette paper and a cigarette for microwave heating” was granted on May 19, 2026. The patent describes cigarette paper with an outer wrapping layer, a heating layer, and an isolation heat-conducting layer, allowing it to absorb microwave energy, convert it to heat, and transfer that heat to the aerosol-generating substrate.
Jun.10