Massive E-cigarette Smuggling Bust in Thailand Worth $5 million

Sep.20.2024
Massive E-cigarette Smuggling Bust in Thailand Worth $5 million
Thai authorities seize nearly 400,000 smuggled e-cigarettes and accessories worth over $4.8 million in mafia-controlled port.

According to a report by News.ch7 on September 19th, Thai customs, Central Investigation Bureau police, and officials from the Ministry of Health conducted a raid on shipping containers at a port in Nakhon Phanom province. They seized a large quantity of smuggled e-cigarettes, e-cigarette accessories, and e-cigarette-liquid, totaling nearly 400,000 items with a value exceeding 1.6 billion Thai Baht (approximately 480 million USD).


Authorities have stated that relevant departments will expand the scope of the investigation to track down any illegal storage warehouses that may exist in the provinces of North Lumbago and Bantonni.


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

Australia’s Tobacco Tax Debate Intensifies as One Nation’s Barnaby Joyce Warns of Illicit Market Growth
Australia’s Tobacco Tax Debate Intensifies as One Nation’s Barnaby Joyce Warns of Illicit Market Growth
Australian One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce has criticised continued tobacco excise increases, arguing that higher taxes are driving consumers toward illicit tobacco markets and benefiting organised crime groups.
Regulations
Jul.13 by 2Firsts Perspectives
PMI Expands IQOS and VEEV Presence at Frankfurt Airport Through Travel Retail Pop-Ups
PMI Expands IQOS and VEEV Presence at Frankfurt Airport Through Travel Retail Pop-Ups
According to The Moodie Davitt Report, PMI Global Travel Retail and Frankfurt Airport Retail have launched new IQOS and VEEV retail spaces at Frankfurt Airport. The installations, located inside and outside duty-free areas, showcase IQOS heated tobacco products and VEEV e-vapor products through product education, consumer interaction and brand experiences. Frankfurt Airport Retail, operated by Fraport Group and Gebr. Heinemann, manages key retail activities at Frankfurt Airport. The initiative follows PMI’s broader strategy of expanding smoke-free products through global travel retail channels. PMI has previously introduced VEEV products across multiple European airports while continuing to expand IQOS and VEEV availability in international markets.
Jul.17
PMI Global Communications Chief Moira Gilchrist: Why AI Matters More Than Ever in the Smoke-Free Transition
PMI Global Communications Chief Moira Gilchrist: Why AI Matters More Than Ever in the Smoke-Free Transition
Philip Morris International (PMI) Chief Global Communications Officer Moira Gilchrist said artificial intelligence is changing how companies understand audiences, manage owned information channels and communicate business transformation. PMI is using AI-generated audience personas to test messaging while optimizing its corporate website and other owned channels for large language models. As PMI continues its transition from cigarettes toward smoke-free products, Gilchrist said owned data and corporate channels are becoming increasingly important in demonstrating the scale of that transformation.
Aug.26
Former ATF Official’s Claims on Chinese Vape Companies and 6-Methyl Nicotine Fuel US Regulatory Debate
Former ATF Official’s Claims on Chinese Vape Companies and 6-Methyl Nicotine Fuel US Regulatory Debate
Former ATF Deputy Director Edgar Domenech has warned that some Chinese vape companies may be using 6-methyl nicotine, a nicotine analogue, raising new questions over how US regulators should classify emerging nicotine compounds.
Jul.13
Special Report | Russia, Ukraine and Belarus Launch Fresh Push to Rein in Vaping
Special Report | Russia, Ukraine and Belarus Launch Fresh Push to Rein in Vaping
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus are tightening vape regulation through different tools, from Ukraine’s stronger enforcement push and Belarus’s proposed advertising restrictions to Russia’s new GOST standard and regional sales-ban mechanism. As black-market concerns persist, some Russian experts argue that China’s tightly controlled but legalised model — built around licensing, traceability and taxation — may offer a more effective alternative to blanket prohibition.
Jul.15
From a 2017 Launch to 48% of South Korea’s Heated Tobacco Market, KT&G Looks Back on a Decade of lil
From a 2017 Launch to 48% of South Korea’s Heated Tobacco Market, KT&G Looks Back on a Decade of lil
KT&G announced on Aug. 13, 2026, that it has opened “lil Archive,” a brand exhibition space in Seoul showcasing the evolution, technology platforms and future direction of its heated tobacco brand lil since its launch in 2017. KT&G said lil now spans three major platforms — lil SOLID, lil HYBRID and lil AIBLE — with more than 30 dedicated consumables, and held a 48% share of South Korea's heated tobacco market in the second quarter of 2026. The opening comes as lil enters its 10th year, with KT&G continuing to position the brand for expansion beyond its domestic market.
Aug.14