Thai Police Dismantle Nationwide E-Cigarette Ring, Seize Over 100,000 Devices Worth $1.52 Million

Key Points:

1.Thai police recently shut down a nationwide illegal e-cigarette sales company, seizing products worth over 50 million Thai baht (approximately $1.52 million USD), with over 100,000 units involved in the case.

2.The case was led by Deputy Commissioner Prakt Wongsuk of the Royal Police, triggered by investigation leads from a secret online group called "Nai Kheaw Kajee.

3.The main suspect admitted to purchasing goods from Chinese suppliers, bypassing regulations through private courier channels, and distributing them to retailers and online shoppers. They were making illegal profits of 300,000 to 500,000 Thai Baht (approximately $9,135 to $15,220) daily.

4.Over the past year, the online network has had a transaction volume exceeding 100 million Thai baht (3 million USD), and the suspects have now been transferred to the economic crimes department for further investigation.

According to reports from the Thai media thethaiger on May 28th, Thai police conducted a raid on a national online e-cigarette store, seizing products worth over 50 million Thai baht (approximately 1.52 million US dollars).

The operation was commanded by Deputy Chief of the Royal Thai Police, Prajuab Wongsuk. The police confiscated over 100,000 various types of e-cigarettes, totaling more than 50 million Thai baht (approximately $1.52 million).

The operation was prompted by a secretive online group called "Nai Kheaw Kajee," which was believed to be a major distributor of e-cigarettes in Thailand. To evade regulation, these e-cigarette products were primarily shipped using private courier services.

A survey has revealed that this company has rented a commercial building to use as its office space and as a warehouse for packaging and shipping goods. After collecting sufficient evidence, the police obtained a search warrant from the court and took action.

When the police arrived at the scene, they found that the interconnected four-story building had been converted into a storage warehouse, with shelves filled with various e-cigarette products. Approximately ten employees were busy packaging goods on site.

The main suspect admitted that he purchased these e-cigarettes from a Chinese supplier to distribute to small retailers and online buyers. For over two years, he has been earning between 300,000 to 500,000 Thai baht (approximately $9,135 to $15,220) per day through this method. Financial investigations revealed that the suspect's business has processed transactions exceeding 100 million Thai baht (about $3 million) in the past year.

He is currently charged with jointly distributing e-cigarettes and e-liquid without customs approval. He and the confiscated items have been handed over to the First Economic Crime Suppression Division for further legal proceedings.