Tianjin customs cracks down on undeclared tobacco products, seizes over 20,000 heated tobacco pods

Nov.06.2024
Tianjin customs cracks down on undeclared tobacco products, seizes over 20,000 heated tobacco pods
Tianjin customs detects two travelers carrying a large amount of undeclared tobacco products, seizes over 10,000 e-cigarette pods. Customs reminds that there are restrictions on the import of tobacco products, and violations will be dealt with according to the law.

According to a report by Global Times on November 5th, the Tianjin Binhai Airport Customs found abnormal images in the X-ray scans of the luggage of two passengers during a routine inspection. Upon conducting a manual examination, it was discovered that the passengers were carrying a large quantity of undeclared items, including e-cigarette pods and lighters.

 

Tianjin customs cracks down on undeclared tobacco products, seizes over 20,000 heated tobacco pods
Tianjin Customs seized undeclared items | Image source: Tianjin Customs official website.

 

After counting, customs officials seized a total of 21,000 e-cigarette pods (heat-not-burn tobacco products) and 17 lighters. The unreported items have been handed over to the customs anti-smuggling department for further processing.

 

Tianjin customs cracks down on undeclared tobacco products, seizes over 20,000 heated tobacco pods
Tianjin Customs seized undeclared e-cigarette pods | Image source: Tianjin Customs official website

 

Customs reminder: Tobacco products are among the items restricted from entering the country. According to current laws, travelers from or to China's Hong Kong and Macau regions, as well as mainland residents visiting these regions for private purposes, are allowed to bring in tax-free a maximum of 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, or 250 grams of tobacco. 

 

For other general travelers, with the exception of short-term frequent visitors to Hong Kong and Macau, regular cross-border commuters, and residents of border areas, the tax-free allowance is up to 400 cigarettes, 100 cigars, or 500 grams of tobacco. Bringing in tobacco products exceeding these limits will result in lawful actions by customs authorities.

 

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

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
Data|China’s January-May 2026 Device Exports Rise 13% While Nicotine Product Exports Decline 6.9%
Data|China’s January-May 2026 Device Exports Rise 13% While Nicotine Product Exports Decline 6.9%
According to China Customs export data analyzed by 2Firsts, China’s vape export mix continued to evolve during January-May 2026. Exports of electronic vaporisation devices (HS 85434000) increased 13.00% year on year, supported by growth in both shipment volume and average export prices. Meanwhile, exports of nicotine-containing non-combustible products (HS 24041200) declined 6.89%, with lower shipment volumes partly offset by higher average export prices.
Special Report
Jun.30
Bringing Tax and Insurance Into Nicotine Regulation: Insights From a Tobacco Harm-Reduction Report
Bringing Tax and Insurance Into Nicotine Regulation: Insights From a Tobacco Harm-Reduction Report
A smoke-free nicotine policy report argues that tobacco harm reduction should move beyond product bans and health warnings into tax policy, insurance pricing and risk-based regulation. While some projections remain open to debate, the report highlights a wider challenge: nicotine products, technologies and consumer behavior have changed sharply over the past decade, and regulatory systems may need new tools to better align tobacco control with harm-reduction goals.
Jun.08
FDA Tobacco Proposal Signals Full-Chain Compliance Test for Global E-Cigarette Supply Chains
FDA Tobacco Proposal Signals Full-Chain Compliance Test for Global E-Cigarette Supply Chains
FDA’s proposed foreign tobacco establishment registration and product listing rule remains unfinished, but Accorto told 2Firsts it reflects a shift toward structured oversight similar to medical device and pharmaceutical compliance frameworks. For Chinese and global e-cigarette suppliers, U.S. market access is moving beyond product authorization toward full-chain compliance covering manufacturing, documentation, import control, distribution, retail and marketing discipline.
Special Report
Jul.09
PMI’s ZYN Launches Loyalty Platform in Mexico, Tapping World Cup Viewing Scenes for Nicotine Pouch Marketing
PMI’s ZYN Launches Loyalty Platform in Mexico, Tapping World Cup Viewing Scenes for Nicotine Pouch Marketing
PMI’s nicotine pouch brand ZYN has launched the ZYN Club loyalty platform in Mexico and introduced ZYN Live Stadium viewing experiences around football matches, showing how nicotine pouch brands are using rewards, limited benefits and offline consumption settings to reach adult consumers.
Jun.29
South Korea Rejects 16 Trillion Won Tax-Evasion Claim Over Chinese Synthetic Nicotine
South Korea Rejects 16 Trillion Won Tax-Evasion Claim Over Chinese Synthetic Nicotine
The South Korean government rejected allegations that Chinese synthetic-nicotine e-liquids were linked to about 16 trillion won in tobacco tax evasion, saying China does not ban synthetic nicotine exports and the estimate is difficult to verify, while acknowledging that pre-law synthetic-nicotine inventory is effectively difficult to tax.
Market
Jun.25