Large-Scale Counterfeit E-Cigarette Crime Network Exposed

According to a report by Red Star News, a man in Wudu District, Longnan City, Gansu Province, experienced adverse reactions such as dizziness and numbness in his limbs after using an e-cigarette purchased online. The police investigation revealed the presence of a massive network involved in the counterfeiting and sale of e-cigarettes, with a large number of victims and a significant amount of money involved.

According to reports, in mid-September 2023, the Food and Drug Surveillance Unit of the Wudu District Public Security Bureau in Longnan City investigated a clue. It was found that a local man named Li purchased 6 "fruit-flavored" e-cigarettes online and experienced adverse reactions after using them. The police investigation revealed that behind these counterfeit e-cigarettes lies a massive criminal network involved in selling fake products. The victims are numerous, and the amount involved in the case is substantial.

The materials used in these e-cigarettes, as well as the selling routes and methods of entering the market, have all become targets of investigation for the police. Due to the low prices of illegal e-cigarettes, small transaction amounts, and a large number of victims spread across the country, criminals often use online platforms to meet buyers and conduct transactions using virtual identities, making the investigation of these cases challenging.

The task force has determined, through extensive data and information analysis, that this is a professional criminal gang selling illegal e-cigarettes through online platforms. They have also identified the organizational structure, scale of illegal activities, and sales channels of this criminal gang.

According to the organizational structure and operational patterns of the criminal gang, the special task force has formulated a detailed arrest plan. On November 19th of last year, 60 police officers from both the district and city-level public security organs in Longnan were dispatched to various locations in Guangdong Province to carry out a simultaneous operation. The criminal gang, led by individuals such as Huang, Wang, and Xu, was successfully captured, with a total of 22 suspects apprehended. Two illegal e-cigarette processing factories were raided and five storage and distribution hubs were dismantled. Nine production equipment were seized, along with over 180 boxes of various types of e-cigarettes, components, and packaging materials. Additionally, over 14,000 e-cigarette pods, 1,000 smoking devices, over 10,000 empty pods, and over 900 atomizers were confiscated on the spot. The seized goods have an estimated total value of over 12 million yuan, and the financial transactions of the involved accounts reached a staggering amount of over 130 million yuan.