Large-scale Crackdown on Counterfeit E-Cigarette Network in Zhejiang

Recently, the Lishui Tobacco Monopoly Bureau in Zhejiang Province, in conjunction with the Liandu District Branch of the Lishui Public Security Bureau, successfully uncovered a large-scale counterfeit e-cigarette network case involving production, transportation, distribution, and online retail. The case spans multiple provinces and cities including Guangdong, Guangxi, and Zhejiang, with a total value of over 21.34 million yuan. It is understood that this is the largest physical e-cigarette case ever uncovered in Zhejiang Province.

In March of this year, based on intelligence, the Lishui Tobacco Monopoly Bureau discovered that there were individuals selling counterfeit e-cigarettes in their jurisdiction. After investigation, the suspect, Mr. Lan, was found to operate an e-cigarette store in the area. In addition to selling compliant e-cigarettes, he also recruited customers offline who had a "demand" for counterfeit e-cigarettes, and completed transactions online, forming a "offline customer recruitment, online targeted sales" model. Preliminary assessment suggests that behind this WeChat account, there is likely a large illegal network for the production and sale of counterfeit e-cigarettes.

In light of this, the tobacco and public security departments quickly formed a special task force. Through analysis of previous clues, they uncovered the illegal e-cigarette "production-transportation-storage-distribution" channels, and followed the trail to identify the "higher-ups" in other provinces and Guangdong. They sent personnel to Guangdong and Zhejiang to conduct investigations. Further investigation revealed that the criminal group was well-organized, with clear division of labor and strong counter-surveillance capabilities, operating illegally through a combination of domestic and international activities.

At the end of September, the Lishui Tobacco Monopoly Bureau, in conjunction with the Lishui Public Security Bureau, organized more than 60 tobacco and law enforcement personnel to conduct a coordinated crackdown on the production and sale of counterfeit e-cigarettes related to the "3.07" case in three cities in Guangdong and Zhejiang provinces. In this operation, 7 suspects were captured, 7 warehouses were successfully disrupted, and a total of over 576,000 counterfeit pods, disposable e-cigarettes, smoking paraphernalia, and other items were seized, with a total value of over 21.34 million yuan.

Seven suspects, including Xu, Xia, and Lin, have been criminally detained by the Zhejiang police for allegedly selling counterfeit products. The case is currently under further investigation.