According to the Cook Islands News reported on August 15, the New Zealand Cook Islands Ministry of Health is investigating potential "black market" activities online. The investigation was sparked by the discovery of three social media accounts selling banned e-cigarettes locally.
The public health department stated that these social media accounts are suspected of violating national prohibitions by selling banned products to the public through online platforms.
John Smith, head of the public health department in the Cook Islands, stated that despite e-cigarettes being legal in some countries, the Cook Islands have officially banned the sale and use of e-cigarettes locally due to their potential health risks. He emphasized that all necessary measures will be taken to ensure the ban is strictly enforced in order to protect the health and safety of the public.
The department stated that they will continue to monitor online platforms to prevent similar illegal activities from happening again. They also mentioned that they will cooperate with the police to jointly investigate and track down the sources of these illegal sales activities to ensure community safety and health.
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