Russian Customs Seizes Over 2,000 Illegal E-Cigarettes, Including 'GEEK BAR'

Dec.03.2024
Russian Customs Seizes Over 2,000 Illegal E-Cigarettes, Including 'GEEK BAR'
Russian customs authorities have seized over 2,000 illegal e-cigarettes and nearly 18,000 bottles of e-liquid, including products from the "GEEK BAR", due to missing labels.

According to a report from Amic.Ru on December 2nd, Russian customs in the Altai Region seized thousands of illegal e-cigarettes and their e-liquid at a store in the city of Barnaul.


Authorities discovered over 2000 illegal e-cigarettes, nearly 18,000 bottles of e-cigarette liquid, and 187 packages of hookah tobacco without the necessary DataMatrix code identification during an inspection of a store. The confiscated goods have been taken by law enforcement officials.


Since the beginning of 2024, over 20,000 packs of unmarked cigarettes, 3,000 e-cigarettes, more than 19,000 bottles of e-cigarette liquid, and 123 cans of nicotine-containing chewing mixtures have been discovered in the area.


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

Interpreting FDA’s on! PLUS Authorization: What the Agency’s Press Release Reveals About Its Nicotine Pouch Review Model
Interpreting FDA’s on! PLUS Authorization: What the Agency’s Press Release Reveals About Its Nicotine Pouch Review Model
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has confirmed that six on! PLUS nicotine pouch products have received Marketing Granted Orders (MGO) through the PMTA pathway. The authorizations were completed under the agency’s nicotine pouch review pilot program in “record time,” with the FDA citing lower levels of harmful constituents while stressing that the decision applies only to the specified products and does not mean they are safe or FDA approved.
Regulations
Dec.20
Vietnam Drafts Administrative Penalties for E-Cigarette Use, Setting Fines up to USD 380
Vietnam Drafts Administrative Penalties for E-Cigarette Use, Setting Fines up to USD 380
Vietnam plans to formalise penalties for e-cigarette and heated tobacco use under a draft decree. Individual users could be fined VND 3–5 million (USD 114–190), while premises allowing use face fines up to VND 10 million (USD 380). Higher penalties apply to business violations.
Dec.25 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Mexican Senate Approves Nationwide Ban on E-Cigarettes and Vapes
Mexican Senate Approves Nationwide Ban on E-Cigarettes and Vapes
Mexico’s Senate passed a reform to the General Health Law banning the production, importation, sale, and advertising of e-cigarettes and vape products nationwide. The bill passed with 76 votes in favor, 37 against, and one abstention.
Dec.12 by 2FIRSTS.ai
PMI’s Smoke-Free Playbook: What Jacek Olczak Really Told Wall Street
PMI’s Smoke-Free Playbook: What Jacek Olczak Really Told Wall Street
At the Morgan Stanley Global Consumer & Retail Conference on December 2, 2025, PMI CEO Jacek Olczak delivered a clear message: the company’s smoke-free shift is now its central strategy. From ZYN’s surge in the U.S. to IQOS’s global momentum and a changing regulatory tone, his remarks sounded less like an earnings update and more like a declaration of PMI’s smoke-free future.
PMI
Dec.03
Exclusive: Suspected ‘Backend Update Then Withdrawal’ Suggests Glas May Be Next FDA-Authorized E-Cigarette Brand After Juul
Exclusive: Suspected ‘Backend Update Then Withdrawal’ Suggests Glas May Be Next FDA-Authorized E-Cigarette Brand After Juul
An exclusive 2Firsts investigation found an unpublished FDA update on e-cigarette marketing authorizations that mirrors market speculation, suggesting Glas’s application may have cleared internal review, though no official confirmation has been issued.
Regulations
Dec.21
Product | 2Firsts Exclusive: Breaking Down Pachamama 25K, CHUC’s First U.S.-Made Factory Product
Product | 2Firsts Exclusive: Breaking Down Pachamama 25K, CHUC’s First U.S.-Made Factory Product
U.S. e-cigarette company Charlie’s has brought its first domestic manufacturing facility online, launching the disposable Pachamama 25K, which will initially roll out to 300 retail stores in Texas. The device features a 20 ml e-liquid capacity with 5% nicotine, three power modes and a built-in 1000 mAh battery, and is advertised to deliver up to 25,000 puffs.
Dec.02 by 2FIRSTS.ai