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

Key Points:

·The Prosecutor General's Office of Kazakhstan and the financial monitoring agency held a meeting to discuss responsibilities related to the smuggling of e-cigarettes. 

·In 2024, a legal amendment classified the importation of e-cigarettes as a criminal offense punishable by up to two years of imprisonment. 

·Since the beginning of 2025, there have been 16 recorded cases of e-cigarette smuggling, with some already in legal proceedings. 

·The Prosecutor General's Office has launched a legal awareness campaign to remind the public about the ban on importing e-cigarettes.

【2Firsts News Flash】According to a report by Zakon.kz on July 23, the Prosecutor General's Office of Kazakhstan held a cross-departmental meeting with representatives from the Financial Monitoring Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan to discuss the issue of responsibility for the illegal import of e-cigarettes.

The "Law Amending and Supplementing Several Laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Health Issues" passed on April 19, 2024, amended the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan, adding Article 301-1 that establishes legal responsibilities for the distribution of smokeless tobacco products, e-cigarettes, their flavors, and e-liquids.

According to the second part of this provision, importing e-cigarettes into the territory of Kazakhstan is considered a criminal offense, punishable by up to two years in prison, regardless of the quantity. The Press Office of the Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan issued a statement on July 23, 2025, urging citizens to take note of this legal change.

Since the beginning of 2025, there have been a total of 16 cases of e-cigarette smuggling recorded, with 9 cases already in judicial proceedings and the rest under investigation. In particular, a 24-year-old woman from Kazakhstan was charged for illegally bringing 5 e-cigarettes into the country and was sentenced to one year of restricted freedom by the regional court.

However, regulatory authorities pointed out that the general public is largely unaware of the criminal liability associated with illegal imports of e-cigarettes. In response, the Supreme Procuratorate has ordered widespread legal interpretation activities at airports, train stations, and customs, including the placement of banners and video clips, as well as the establishment of facilities for voluntary submission of e-cigarettes.

On July 21, 2025, the Prosecutor General's Office once again reminded citizens and businesses in Kazakhstan to pay attention to this important legal change, which bans the import, production, and sale of e-cigarettes.