Illegal Electronic Cigarette Factory Busted in China

Aug.10.2022
Illegal Electronic Cigarette Factory Busted in China
Police bust illegal e-cigarette factories producing counterfeit products in Hengzhou, Nanning, arresting two suspects and seizing equipment.

Recently, the security (forest) team of the Hengzhou Public Security Bureau carefully analyzed the information transferred by the Nanning Market Supervision and Administration Bureau and the Security Police Detachment of the Nanning Public Security Bureau. They discovered two illegal electronic cigarette processing factories in the Lian Tang town of Hengzhou City, suspected of producing and selling electronic cigarette products that use registered trademarks of others.


To gain a better understanding of the basic situation surrounding the production of electronic cigarettes, the Public Security (Forest) Brigade has established a special investigative team to conduct undercover operations in the vicinity of the storage and production sites, gathering evidence and patiently waiting for the right time to make arrests.


On-site at an electronic cigarette processing factory.


On August 4th, after careful planning, the time was ripe for the arrest. At around 4 p.m. that day, the Public Security Bureau of Hengzhou City and the Market Supervision Administration simultaneously carried out a planned operation, splitting into two groups, and successfully dismantled two fake and counterfeit production and sales centers within Liupo Village Committee. The criminal suspects Zhou MouSheng and Zhou Mou were arrested on site, and a large number of electronic cigarettes and components that infringed upon others' registered trademarks were seized.


After an investigation by the police, it was discovered that Zhou, who had four years of experience in making electronic cigarettes, resigned from his job in Guangdong and returned to Liantang Town Liupo Village Committee. There, without obtaining any permits or being commissioned by a manufacturer, he established an electronic cigarette processing factory, purchased raw materials such as tobacco pipes, mouthpieces, and oil, hired workers to produce electronic cigarettes, and sold them for personal gain. Zhou Sheng, who is related to Zhou, also opened an electronic cigarette factory within the village committee after consulting Zhou on his "get-rich-quick" scheme.


Suspect identification.


It is understood that Zhou Sheng and Zhou's electronic cigarette processing factory mainly earn processing fees by accepting customer orders to process and assemble electronic cigarette products, which are then shipped to customers.


After interrogation, the suspects Zhou Sheng and Zhou admitted to the crime of producing and selling electronic cigarettes bearing counterfeit registered trademarks of others. Currently, the suspects Zhou Sheng and Zhou have been taken into criminal custody by the Hengzhou police for alleged trademark infringement, and the case is under further investigation.


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