Russian Customs Seize 160,000 Illicit Chinese E-Cigarettes

Feb.07.2023
Russian Customs Seize 160,000 Illicit Chinese E-Cigarettes
16k illegal e-cigarettes worth RUB 38 million seized by Russian customs from China.

Recently, the Belgorod Customs in Russia seized 160,000 counterfeit electronic cigarettes smuggled from China, valued at 38 million rubles (approximately 3.63 million yuan).


Oleg Lapin, deputy head of the customs office in Belgorod, stated that the electronic cigarettes confiscated contained more than 20 milligrams per milliliter of nicotine, which is a violation of tobacco laws and deemed illegal.


Currently, the seized items have been transferred to the regional land management bureaus of the federal state property management agencies in Kaluga, Bryansk, and Smolensk regions.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

Special Report|From CrossBar 20K to 6-Methyl Nicotine KUMI: Two Routes Into U.S. State Vape Directories?
Special Report|From CrossBar 20K to 6-Methyl Nicotine KUMI: Two Routes Into U.S. State Vape Directories?
Several U.S. states have incorporated the September 9, 2020 PMTA filing deadline into eligibility rules for certain vaping products. CrossBar 20K drew attention after appearing on Pennsylvania's 163-entry directory. A broader 2Firsts investigation found that related registration businesses also listed KUMI and CROSSBAR SIX products, with 171 KUMI-related entries across Louisiana, Nebraska and Wisconsin. Corporate records link Scott Silverman to Blue Nine LLC and VR Products I LLC. PMTA compliance expert Mr. K said historical applications and nicotine-analogue products may offer two different approaches to state-directory access.
Regulations
Oct.26
Philip Morris Malaysia Again Meets Religious Authority Over Cigarette Alternatives as Perlis Mufti Responds on Halal Criteria
Philip Morris Malaysia Again Meets Religious Authority Over Cigarette Alternatives as Perlis Mufti Responds on Halal Criteria
Philip Morris Malaysia Managing Director Naeem Shahab Khan met Perlis Mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin on September 17 and presented the company's shift from conventional cigarettes toward alternative products. The mufti said a product could be considered halal if it is clean, its side effects are not harmful or can be controlled, and it does not involve excessive waste. His remarks did not mention IQOS or any other specific PMI product and did not amount to a new product-specific religious ruling. It was at least the second publicly reported engagement between Philip Morris Malaysia and a Malaysian religious institution over cigarette alternatives within six months.
Regulations
Sep.18 by 2Firsts Perspectives
GAO Audit Finds Nearly 132,000 FDA Tobacco Applications Waiting an Average 1,266 Days as Nicotine Pouch Pilot Practices Move Into Vape PMTA Reviews
GAO Audit Finds Nearly 132,000 FDA Tobacco Applications Waiting an Average 1,266 Days as Nicotine Pouch Pilot Practices Move Into Vape PMTA Reviews
A U.S. Government Accountability Office audit found that 131,915 tobacco product applications submitted to the FDA since 2018 remained without a final review as of December 31, 2025, with pending applications waiting an average of 1,266 days. GAO also found FDA lacks the data needed to systematically determine whether scientific reviews meet applicable timelines. HHS agreed to upgrade the agency's tracking systems. At the same time, FDA has begun applying lessons from its nicotine pouch PMTA pilot to e-cigarette reviews, while changes to enforcement policy and electronic submissions are making the specific stage of a PMTA increasingly relevant to market access.
FDA
Oct.03
North Carolina Tightens Vape Product Directory Enforcement, Expands State and Local Powers as Violators Face Fines, Product Seizures and License Suspension or Revocation
North Carolina Tightens Vape Product Directory Enforcement, Expands State and Local Powers as Violators Face Fines, Product Seizures and License Suspension or Revocation
North Carolina has expanded enforcement of its vapor product directory rules, authorizing more state and local law enforcement participation and establishing a task force led by the State Bureau of Investigation. The legislation requires at least one unannounced compliance inspection annually for retailers, distributors and wholesalers handling covered products. Penalties effective October 1, 2026, include civil fines of $500–$750 for a first violation and $1,000–$1,500 for repeated violations within 12 months, along with potential license suspension or revocation. Manufacturers may face penalties of $10,000 per unlisted product. The measures strengthen the product directory system established in 2024.
Regulations
Oct.28
Product | DOJO Launches 0+6ml BLAST7K Fresh in UK in September, Retaining 2+8ml Pod Compatibility Ahead of October Per-Milliliter Vaping Duty
Product | DOJO Launches 0+6ml BLAST7K Fresh in UK in September, Retaining 2+8ml Pod Compatibility Ahead of October Per-Milliliter Vaping Duty
DOJO officially launched the BLAST7K Fresh on September 17, 2026, introducing a UK-market prefilled pod product with 6ml of e-liquid and a manufacturer-rated capacity of up to 7,000 puffs. The device features a 1000mAh rechargeable battery, the INSTA-JUICED structure and COREX BLAST dual-mesh technology, while retaining compatibility with existing BLAST pods. The launch comes less than two weeks before the UK's Vaping Products Duty takes effect on October 1. At the new duty rate, 6ml of vaping liquid would correspond to £1.32 in VPD. DOJO has not stated that the product's 6ml format was designed in response to the new duty.
Sep.20
EU Commission Clarifies Vaping, Smokeless Nicotine Use in Proposed Cardiovascular Checks
EU Commission Clarifies Vaping, Smokeless Nicotine Use in Proposed Cardiovascular Checks
The European Commission has clarified to 2Firsts that its proposed cardiovascular health checks would assess smoking, vaping and the use of smokeless nicotine products as part of patients’ medical histories. The Commission also said Member States may organise additional checks within their healthcare systems. In the same response, it pointed to JRC research on e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches that has fed into the evaluation of EU tobacco legislation.
Nov.09