Russian's Stavropol court convicts four men over illegal sales of disposable vapes

Dec.31

A court in Russia’s Stavropol region convicted four local residents of illegal sales of disposable vapes, with the seized products valued at more than 26 million rubles (about $338,000). The regional prosecutor’s office said the organized group operated from March 2022 to June 2023, selling disposable electronic vapes in Stavropol, Nevinnomyssk and Mikhaylovsk, while the products lacked mandatory information required by law.

Key Points

• Timeframe: March 2022 to June 2023

• Locations: Stavropol, Nevinnomyssk, Mikhaylovsk

• Value: more than 26 million rubles (about $338,000)

• Penalties: 18 months to three years suspended; fines of 300,000–400,000 rubles (about $3,900–$5,200)

• Legal basis: Part 2 of Article 171.1 of Russia’s Criminal Code; prosecutors call it the region’s first such verdict

2Firsts, December 30, 2025, 17:54 – According to the press service of the Prosecutor’s Office of Stavropol Krai, a court in the region found four local residents guilty of illegal sales of vapes, with the seized products valued at 26 million rubles (about $338,000).

The prosecutor’s office said that from March 2022 to June 2023 an organized group of four people sold disposable electronic vapes in Stavropol, Nevinnomyssk and Mikhaylovsk. The products lacked mandatory information required by law.

The illegal products were seized during operational-search measures. Prosecutors said the total value of the batch exceeded 26 million rubles (about $338,000) and described it as the first verdict in the region in a criminal case involving illegal vape circulation.

The court sentenced the defendants to prison terms ranging from one year and six months to three years, suspended, and also imposed fines of 300,000 to 400,000 rubles (about $3,900 to $5,200). The defendants were convicted under Part 2 of Article 171.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

Image source: iStock/HAZEMMKAMAL

References:

[1] На Ставрополье вынесен приговор по делу о незаконном обороте вейпов на сумму свыше 26 млн рублей

Also Read:

[1] Police dismantle a network of 50+ stores selling unmarked nicotine products in the Moscow region

[2] Russia’s Federation Council Approves Law Allowing Extrajudicial Blocking of Online Tobacco Sales

[3] Russian Region Targets Youth Vaping and Night Alcohol Sales

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