Kazakhstan Pavlodar region destroys illegal e-cigarettes worth over a billion tenge

Aug.14

Kazakhstan's Pavlodar region destroys illegal e-cigarettes worth over one billion tenge after investigation uncovers smuggling network.

Key Points:

·Pavlodar Region, Kazakhstan, carries out first destruction of illegal e-cigarettes

·Total value of the e-cigarettes involved amounts to over 100 million tenge

·Over 160,000 e-cigarettes seized following investigations

·Economic investigation department continues to pursue related cases

According to inform.kz, on August 13th, the Pavlodar region of Kazakhstan destroyed 91,000 e-cigarettes for the first time at a designated location in an industrial area. These e-cigarettes were seized in a series of criminal cases, with each unit undergoing thorough inspection.

The Pavlodar Region Economic Investigation Department stated that only the first batch of illegal e-cigarettes has been destroyed so far, with more remaining in storage and ongoing investigations. Since the beginning of 2025, eight cases have been filed under Article 301-1 of the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan concerning the sale and distribution of e-cigarettes and other smokeless tobacco products. Two of these cases have been completed and submitted to court.

Deputy Director Galiaskar Kasymov revealed that since 2025, the department has seized over 160,000 e-cigarettes from circulation.

In addition, cigarettes worth 100 million tenge (approximately USD 190,000) were destroyed because they lacked ownership documents and had not been taxed according to the law.

It is worth noting that earlier in Ekibastuz, authorities had seized a batch of e-cigarettes valued at about 100 million tenge. Investigations revealed that criminal groups, in particular, were targeting teenagers by selling them e-cigarettes.

References:

[1] Вейпы на миллиард тенге пустили под бульдозер в Павлодаре

Also Read:

[1] Kazakhstan Police Seize Illegal E-Cigarettes Worth $4,078 USD in Balkhash

[2] Kazakhstan Prosecutor General’s Office: Illegal Import of E-Cigarettes Is a Criminal Offense, Punishable by Up to 2 Years in Prison

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