Over 179,000 E-Cigarettes Destroyed in Samut Prakan as Thai Government Tightens Enforcement

Key Points

• Event and Leadership:The destruction ceremony was presided over by Santi Piyatat, Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office and Chair of the government’s e-cigarette suppression committee. 
• Scale of Destruction:Authorities destroyed a total of 179,125 items, weighing approximately nine tons, including e-cigarette devices, liquids, and components, all of which were legally confiscated and finalized by court order.
• Estimated Market Value:The destroyed items were valued at over 33 million baht (≈ USD 1,020,000), marking one of the largest single e-cigarette destruction events in Thailand.
• Interagency Cooperation:The operation was jointly conducted by several agencies, including the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB), Royal Thai Police, and Thai Customs Department, reflecting an integrated approach to vape enforcement.
• Government Policy Goal:Minister Santi reaffirmed the government’s goal of building a “vape-free society”, emphasizing that e-cigarettes pose serious health risks to young people and impose long-term public health and social costs.

2Firsts, November 27, 2025 — According to Thairath，Thai Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office Santi Piyathat presided over the destruction of confiscated e-cigarettes as part of the government’s “Smoke-Free Society” policy.

The destruction took place at the Bang Pu Industrial Waste Management Center in Samut Prakan Province, involving 179,125 units of e-cigarettes, liquids, and accessories weighing approximately nine tonnes, with a total value of ฿33 million (approximately USD 1.02 million, based on ฿1 THB = 0.03083 USD).

The operation was jointly carried out by the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB), the Customs Department, and the Royal Thai Police.

Santi emphasized that the action demonstrates the government’s determination to advance a smoke-free society and protect public health, particularly among youth.

Ronron Phulphiphath, Secretary-General of the OCPB, added that the illegal sale of e-cigarettes constitutes an offense under the Consumer Protection Act, punishable by up to three years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to ฿600,000, or both. He urged the public to report violations via the OCPB hotline 1166.

Image source: Thairath