Kazakhstan police uncover $110,000 worth of illegal e-cigarette trade

Oct.29.2024

Kazakh police uncover $110,000 worth of illegal e-cigarettes at industrial base in Ekibastuz, with two suspects detained.

According to a report from Kazinform on October 28th, Kazakhstani police discovered a shipment of e-cigarettes valued at 55 million tenge (110,000 USD) at an industrial site in Ekibastuz. The goods were intended for illegal transactions through social media and messaging apps. In addition, authorities also seized nearly 1100 bottles of e-cigarette liquid.

According to police sources, this batch of illegal goods was originally intended for sale. Despite knowing that the circulation of these products has been officially prohibited, some young people continue to sell these e-cigarettes through online stores on well-known social media platforms and instant messaging apps. Currently, two suspects have been detained by the police on suspicion of selling and distributing illegal e-cigarettes.

At the same time, law enforcement officers intercepted a vehicle carrying e-cigarettes during the raid. It is believed that this batch of e-cigarettes was also intended to be delivered to customers who placed orders online.

On June 20th, Kazakhstan officially implemented a law to revise and supplement certain health-related legal provisions, which explicitly bans the sale of smokeless tobacco products and e-cigarettes.

References:

[1] Склад с вейпами на 55 млн тенге обнаружили в Экибастузе

Also Read:

[1] Illegal Sale of E-Cigarettes Uncovered in Almaty Dental Clinic

[2] Kazakhstan Prosecutes Illegal E-cigarette Importation and Sales Case

[3] Police in Uralk District Arrested Illegal E-cigarette Sellers on September 13th

[4] Illegal e-cigarette distribution team detained in North Kazakhstan by Police

[5] Kazakhstan Authorities Bust Largest Illegal E-cigarette Production Facility

[6] Kazakhstan Implements Ban on E-Cigarettes Sales Starting to Work, over Ten Thousand of Illegal E-Cigs are Busted in July

[7] Kazakhstan Bans E-cigarette Sales and Imposes Criminal Penalties

[8] Investigation on Illegal Sale of E-cigarette in Almaty, Kazakhstan

[9] Aktau Region Authorities to Implement Strict Ban on E-Cigarettes

[10] Kazakhstan Controversial Criminal Case over E-cigarette Sales Surge

[11] Kazakhstan Authorities Crack Down on Illegal E-Cigarette Sales

#Law enforcement #E-liquids #Asia #Kazakhstan

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

Australian Border Force Seizes 586M Cigarettes and 3M Vapes in Record First Quarter

Australian Border Force (ABF), 586 million cigarettes and over 3 million vapes were seized at Australia’s international border in the first quarter of the 2024–25 financial year (July 1–September 30), marking a continued upward trend over the past two years. Enhanced intelligence and data-sharing have enabled ABF to target suspicious consignments more effectively across all entry points.

Oct.24 by 2FIRSTS.ai

WHO Chief Warns of E-Cigarette Threat to Youth as COP11 Opens in Geneva

More than 1,400 delegates from 162 Parties convened in Geneva on November 17 for the Eleventh Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus opened the session with a stark warning: tobacco and nicotine companies are targeting schools as the “new front line” to recruit a generation of addicts through e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches.

Nov.18 by 2FIRSTS.ai

ACT Government Bill Targets Illicit Tobacco and Vapes with Tougher Powers

ACT Government Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith introduced the Tobacco and Other Smoking Products Amendment Bill 2025, expanding authorised officers’ inspection, seizure and penalty powers to address illicit tobacco and vaping. The Bill enables $1,600 infringement notices for selling prohibited smoking products and classifies illicit tobacco as a prohibited smoking product under Territory law.

Oct.23 by 2FIRSTS.ai

XQS Rolls Out Two Beverage-Flavoured Nicotine Pouches in UK; Says Convenience Stores Are the Fastest-Growing Channel

Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) UK has added two beverage-inspired variants—Cola Lime and Fizzy Peach—to its XQS nicotine pouch range. Both come in an 8mg strength and are available exclusively via the Vape Supplier website, with a recommended retail price of £5.50.