Vaping in Thailand Vaping in Thailand remains illegal, officially

 

By Peter Roche

On Saturday, police in Bangkok and Nakhon Pathom, to the west of the city, confiscated vaping devices and accessories valued at over 80 million baht during a series of raids. According to Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau deputy commissioner Maj-General Pairoj Sukruaythanachote, three locations, including a warehouse, were searched in Nakhon Pathom’s main city district.

 

Two people were arrested, with about 50 million baht worth of vaping devices and accessories being confiscated.

In Bangkok, police searched a condominium in Ratchathewi district and confiscated vaping devices and accessories valued around 50 million baht. A suspect was also arrested during the raid. Those arrested were charged with importing prohibited items, violating the Consumer Protection Act and the Export-Import Act.

 

The police are still conducting further investigations to find other individuals involved in the illegal trade.

 

It is a violation of the Customs Act to possess or smoke a vaping device, according to Cyber Crime Investigation Division 1 commander Maj-General Chatpuntakan Klaiklueng.

 

“Individuals found in possession of vaping devices could face up to five years in prison, as well as a fine of four times the value of the vaping device. Smoking e-cigarettes in public also violates the Tobacco Control Law.”

 

Both e-cigarettes and their liquid refills remain illegal in Thailand. However, vaping devices and refills can still be found on sale throughout the country, in markets and often openly in small retail shops. Foreign tourists can be particularly vulnerable to corrupt police officers who may demand bribes in exchange for turning a blind eye to possession of e-cigarettes.

 

In January, Taiwanese actress Charlene An accused seven Bangkok policemen of extorting 27,000 baht from her and her friends for possession of vaping devices – the case has ended up with 7 police who were in attendance at the checkpoint being charged with extortion.

 

Thailand maintains its strict ban on e-cigarettes and vaping, with severe penalties for those caught possessing or smoking such devices. These recent raids demonstrate the government’s commitment to enforcing the ban and cracking down on illegal activity related to e-cigarettes… despite may Thais and foreigners still wandering around openly vaping and the products available in many markets.

 

Source: https://phuket-go.com/phuket-news/national-news/80-million-baht-of-vaping-gear-and-e-cigarettes-seized-in-an-around-bangkok/

 

-- © Copyright Phuket GO 2023-03-13

 

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Hahaha one poster ask here not long ago where to buy vaps 

And that while it is illegal for already a long time....How many were sold already? why did the RTP do nothing about it in previous years?? And how about the markets everywhere ... you can buy them easily

It is illegal to import these. It is not illegal to own or use. The courts have already thrown out possession cases for that reason this year. 

If that is what vaping does to your eyes I for one will stay well clear !

What a strange 'mis' leading picture!  Vapers look a heck of a lot healthier than smokers, and there's a reason for that..

 

Clearly, Thailand is determined to stamp out vaping, which is its prerogerative. It's going to seem rather strange to people from Europe in particular where mainstream science declares it mostly safe, and high street vape shops abound. Nevertheless, the law is the law, so vapers beware.

 

Fortunately, I think the strategy has changed to targeting suppliers rather than users.  So, I think vapers will no longer face shake downs, but they will find it increasing difficult to buy equipment.

 

What an odd place Thailand is!  it should maybe look to countries like the UK for guidance on the subject, and not Bloomberg America imo.  Having said that. tighter regulation is needed, as a very small minority of younger people do seem to exhibit a sever reaction to vapes (or something else they are not talking about.)