Major e-cigarette gang leader captured by Thai police in 100 million baht operation

[snoop1130]

 

The Thai police captured a major e-cigarette gang leader known as Tee Leng, who was selling illegal e-cigarettes and vape juice to smaller traders. The operation had an impressive turnover of 100 million baht.

 

As a result of the arrest, the police seized over 70,000 e-cigarette-related items, valued at more than 10 million baht. The arrest took place today, following an investigation triggered by a Facebook page selling these illegal items.

 

The operation was led by Police Lieutenant General Wittaya Sriprasertphap, the commander of the Royal Thai Police, Police Lieutenant Colonel Kraiwit Saentaweesuk, the commander of the 1st Division of the Royal Thai Police, and Police Major General Wisarut Baangnamkem, the superintendent of the 1st Division of the Royal Thai Police.

 

The trail led them to Tee Leng, otherwise known as 32 year old Jenkit, who was the head of the operation. After surveillance and covert tracking, they were able to trace the distribution path of the illegal e-cigarettes and vape juice from the Facebook page, reported KhaoSod.

 

By Nattapong Westwood

Caption: Picture courtesy of KhaoSod

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-12-14

 

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[keith101]

Its like illegal gambling the more they ban it the more people will do it 

[greeneking]

If it was legal he would be just a businessman not a gang leader. And there are now as many Ganga shops as coffee shops in some places.

[dinsdale]

Vaping is absolutely everywhere. No stopping it. Bit like dope. That gennie ain't goin back in the bottle.

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

As a result of the arrest, the police seized over 70,000 e-cigarette-related items, valued at more than 10 million baht

Which will likely be re-distributed to markets by this weekend.

[ezzra]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The operation was led by Police Lieutenant General Wittaya Sriprasertphap, the commander of the Royal Thai Police, Police Lieutenant Colonel Kraiwit Saentaweesuk, the commander of the 1st Division of the Royal Thai Police, and Police Major General Wisarut Baangnamkem, the superintendent of the 1st Division of the Royal Thai Police.

Can't see the criminals for the forest of high ranking police generals that made sure the loot will end up in the right place, right?...

[herfiehandbag]

The black and white polo shirts and zip up windcheaters are presumably the uniform for the anti vaping police!

 

I personally don't do "vaping", I don't much like being around people who are vaping, and exhaling clouds of gas, but in the big picture of societies problems it is a mere dot in the distance, like the bloke who ran the London Marathon in a diving suit!

 

Utterly pointless - however I look forward to the public destruction by burning of 10 million Baht worth of highly saleable products (less of course a few dozen which were sold on to pay for the new polo shirts) in the near future - should make for some interesting smells!

 

I wonder who will fill the 100 million Baht gap in the market, and where the start up stock will come from?

Edited December 15, 2023 by herfiehandbag

[jippytum]

Its about time police took action against the scammers on facebook. 

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, jippytum said:

Its about time police took action against the scammers on facebook. 

Its perhaps time Facebook did too!

 

[Nickcage49]

Is this really something that should be a focal point for the police? These should be legal. They are being used everywhere anyway.

 

I'm not a smoker, but they are less harmful than smoking cigarettes. 

 

There are so many other things the police should be doing. There is a ton of crime hiding in plain sight.

 

Do your job!

[Bangkok Barry]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The arrest took place today, following an investigation triggered by a Facebook page selling these illegal items.

 

Yet again, a brain-dead idiot promoting the sale of illegal good on-line, too dumb to know that not only potential customers can see it but also the authorities. Happens over and over again, be it bike race location and time, girls pimping other girls etc.

[Bangkok Barry]

43 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

45 minutes ago, jippytum said:

Its about time police took action against the scammers on facebook. 

Its perhaps time Facebook did too!

 

Usually, yes. But 1 - this wasn't a scam and 2 - I wouldn't expect FB to monitor what goods are legal or not in every country and geo-block ads for them.

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

Usually, yes. But 1 - this wasn't a scam and 2 - I wouldn't expect FB to monitor what goods are legal or not in every country and geo-block ads for them.

My perspective slanted... Mrs got hit by a Facebook based selling scam not long ago. Facebook should perhaps leave it to Ebay and Lazada!

[Emdog]

dare not go against the income flow to the Thai tobacco monopoly

[sstuff3]

"The Thai authorities remain vigilant, cracking down on such activities to protect consumer interests and uphold the law." 

 

Replace the word "consumer" with Tobacco Authority of Thailand, formerly known as Thailand Tobacco Monopoly (TTM) for a more accurate statement. 

[Uttaradit farang]

Yet they are openly on sale especially on Sukhumvit nana area. I know of one shop that sells them in Mueang Uttaradit. And it’s very close to the local police station and the police don’t bat an eyelid 🙄