Thai Police Seize Over 80,000 Illegal E-cigarettes Worth $463,783

Regulations by 2FIRSTS.ai
Jun.21.2024
Thai Police Seize Over 80,000 Illegal E-cigarettes Worth $463,783
Thai internet police raided two locations in the "Operation Smokeless," seizing over 80,000 illegal e-cigarettes worth $463,783 in total.

According to a report by CTN News on June 21st, Thai internet police raided two locations as part of "Operation Smokeless" and seized over 80,000 illegal e-cigarettes with a total value exceeding 17 million Thai Baht ($463,783).


The investigation began on April 23, when authorities arrested a man in Songkhla Province for selling e-cigarettes online. Subsequent investigations found various brands of e-cigarettes and related equipment stored at two locations in Phetchabun Province and Bangkok.


The first raid took place at a large rented warehouse in the Bang Krathuek area of Pathum Thani province. Police searches uncovered over 9,000 large boxes containing various brands of e-cigarette pods and e-liquid. Additionally, a delivery truck nearby was found to be concealing over 43,000 boxes of e-cigarette liquid and pods.


Authorities have confiscated all e-cigarette products and arrested the 44-year-old warehouse keeper, Thanochot, with a total of over 53,000 e-cigarette products valued at over 8 million Thai baht ($218,251).


The second raid was conducted under a warrant from the Criminal Court, at a house in a village in Prawet District, Bangkok. In the search, police found various e-cigarettes, including disposable pods and e-cigarette liquids from well-known brands, totaling over 37,000 e-cigarette items worth 8.9 million baht ($242,804). Police arrested 30-year-old Natthaporn.


In two raids, a total of over 80,000 e-cigarette items were seized, with a total value exceeding 17 million Thai Baht (463,783 USD).


The suspect claimed they were just caretakers, but authorities are skeptical of this claim and the investigation is ongoing.


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