According to A Voz da Cidade, on July 9th, the Federal Police carried out an operation called "Vapore" early Tuesday morning to crack down on distributors and retailers in Mangaratiba (located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) who are illegally importing and selling e-cigarettes through social networks and websites.
The main objective of the first phase of Operation Vapore is to target distributors and retailers of these illegal e-cigarette products, especially those who have been selling them domestically despite the ban on importing, selling, and advertising e-cigarettes by the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) since 2009.
During the operation, a team from the Federal Police in Angra dos Reis (located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) carried out two search and seizure warrants issued by the Seventh Criminal Court of the Federal Court of Rio de Janeiro, conducting searches in the city of Mangaratiba.
During the execution of one of the search warrants, a man was arrested on the spot for smuggling e-cigarettes. The investigation revealed that the suspect was involved in importing, storing, and distributing e-cigarettes, primarily through social networks and online stores for illegal sales. Federal police have seized a batch of computer equipment for forensic examination. Currently, the suspect has been taken to the federal police station in Angra dos Reis for standard procedures, and will later be transferred to the state prison system pending a court decision.
Since 2009, the Brazilian National Health Agency has banned the importation, sale, and advertising of e-cigarettes. Recently, the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) has upheld this ban, making any illegal sale of e-cigarettes within Brazil punishable by a prison sentence of two to five years for smuggling.
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
