Vietnamese Police Bust Marijuana E-cigarette Production Line and Arrest Six

Nov.24.2023
Vietnamese Police Bust Marijuana E-cigarette Production Line and Arrest Six
Vietnam police have busted a marijuana e-cigarette production line, seizing drugs and arresting six suspects.

On November 23rd, according to Vietnamese media Baomoi, the Vietnamese police dismantled a production line for marijuana e-cigarettes and apprehended six suspects in a series of coordinated operations.


Previously, the Vietnamese Drug Crime Investigation Police Bureau conducted an inquiry by gathering information and stumbled upon numerous advertisements for the sale of e-cigarettes on social media platforms. During the course of investigation, authorities established that the mastermind behind these activities was Le Anh Tho.


Leandro goes online to search for formulas, then contacts individuals overseas through social networks to order synthetic marijuana, flavoring essential oils, chemicals, e-cigarette devices, and smoking pipes. These products are then shipped to warehouses in Hanoi by shipping companies.


According to authorities, all e-cigarette packaging and labels are custom-made by Liano, including the warranty and return policy for defective products. In order to evade detection by authorities, the subject frequently changes warehouses.


After producing finished cigarettes, he would instruct his subordinates to post advertisements and live streams on social media, falsely claiming that these products contain stimulants but are not marijuana products, in order to deceive users. The main objective is to target customers for bulk purchases, offering wholesale deals and determining the sales prices based on quantity. The more they buy, the cheaper the price, and vice versa.


The police discovered over 3,500 finished cigarettes injected with anesthesia-infused essential oils at the scene. They also found five plastic jars containing 84 liters of e-liquid, essential oil pumps mixed with synthetic drugs, as well as nearly 10,000 e-cigarettes. Additionally, they seized one million cigarette packs and numerous solvents, chemicals, raw materials, components, accessories, boxes, and labels used in the production and packaging of e-cigarettes.


In addition, authorities have also seized nearly 15,000 e-cigarettes containing e-liquid. These e-cigarettes were smuggled by Leandro from overseas and were intended to be sold on the market in Vietnam.


As of now, the Drug Crime Investigation Bureau in Vietnam has filed a case, prosecuted and detained six defendants.


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

Feature | Vape Politics in Russia: Local Governments Push Forward Despite Legislative Deadlock
Feature | Vape Politics in Russia: Local Governments Push Forward Despite Legislative Deadlock
As Russia’s federal vape policy stalls, regional governors are racing to implement local bans—now with the backing of President Vladimir Putin. The divide between swift local action and delayed national legislation is fueling debate over health, regulation, and the country’s broader approach to nicotine control.
Oct.28
Product | Compatible with Terea Sticks and Supporting Dual Heating: HiTaste Unveils New Heated Tobacco Device
Product | Compatible with Terea Sticks and Supporting Dual Heating: HiTaste Unveils New Heated Tobacco Device
HiTaste has introduced its new HNB device, the F10, on social media, highlighting its wrap-around heating and dual-heating features. Similar “dual-heating” and “one-stick-two-sessions” designs were widely showcased at InterTabac 2025, signaling that this technical direction is emerging as a new competitive focus among HNB brands.
Nov.17 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Russian Khabarovsk Officers Confiscate Illegal Vapes, Tax Evasion at $225,000
Russian Khabarovsk Officers Confiscate Illegal Vapes, Tax Evasion at $225,000
Customs officers in Khabarovsk seized nearly 13,000 illegally imported vapes worth ₽11 million. The undeclared goods evaded about $225,000 in customs duties and lacked safety and labeling certificates. The case is pending court review as Russia considers a nationwide vape sales ban.
Oct.27 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Argentine province of Santa Fe passes bill expanding smoking regulations to include e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products
Argentine province of Santa Fe passes bill expanding smoking regulations to include e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products
The Santa Fe Provincial Chamber of Deputies has passed a bill amending the 2005 Provincial Anti-Smoking Law (No. 12,432) to include e-cigarettes, vaping devices, and heated tobacco products. Lawmaker Sonia Martorano, who authored the initiative, said the reform aims to strengthen prevention policies amid growing youth use, stressing that “even without nicotine, these devices are toxic.”
Nov.05 by 2FIRSTS.ai
SKE’s Parent Company Yinghe Technology Reports 80% Drop in Q3 Net Profit, Revenue Up 22.85% Year-on-Year
SKE’s Parent Company Yinghe Technology Reports 80% Drop in Q3 Net Profit, Revenue Up 22.85% Year-on-Year
Yinghe Technology (SZ: 300457), parent company of SKE, saw Q3 net profit plunge 80.3% to 31.06 million yuan, while revenue rose 22.85% to 2.52 billion yuan. The decline was mainly driven by higher costs and expenses.
Oct.28 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Tennessee Cracks Down on Vaping: 10 % Tax Hike, Expanded Enforcement Powers, Mandatory ID Checks at Every Retail Counter
Tennessee Cracks Down on Vaping: 10 % Tax Hike, Expanded Enforcement Powers, Mandatory ID Checks at Every Retail Counter
New Tennessee laws passed this year impose a 10 % tax on vaping products, empower the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) to conduct compliance inspections, and set steep fines for retailers who sell to minors. Yet, with no statewide retail-licensing scheme for e-cigarettes, enforcing the penalties remains problematic. Meanwhile, stores in cities like Jackson have voluntarily stepped up ID scanning and product tracking to help the rules take hold.
Dec.03 by 2FIRSTS.ai