Thailand Seizes 200,000 Illegal E-Cigarette Items in Major Bust

[snoop1130]

Picture courtesy of กรมศุลกากร : The Customs Department Facebook

 

A significant crackdown has led to the seizure of over 200,000 illegally imported e-cigarette items from China, with a total value exceeding 33 million baht. This major operation was unveiled by three Thai ministers on March 10, including Justice Minister Pol. Col. Thavee Sodsong, Minister Jiraphon Sinthuprai, and Deputy Finance Minister Chulaphan Amornwiwat, during a high-profile visit to Laem Chabang Port Customs Office.

 

Collaborating with the Department of Special Investigation, Customs Department, and Royal Thai Police, the operation involved inspections of shipping containers, resulting in the discovery of illegal goods including disposable e-cigarettes, e-liquids, and vape pods. The consignment, in breach of the Customs Act of 2017, also contravened the Ministry of Commerce’s 2016 regulations banning certain goods, reiterated by a 2014 declaration categorising such items as prohibited imports.

 

 

The Customs Department, under the guidance of Director General Teerach Atanavanich and his team, will appraise the seized e-cigarettes before handing them over to the relevant authorities for legal action. The Department of Special Investigation plans to expedite its inquiry to trace those involved in importing and distributing these items, with the goal of effectively deterring the proliferation of e-cigarettes nationwide.

 

By strengthening coordination among national agencies, Thailand aims to underscore its commitment to tackling illegal imports and ensuring the enforcement of stringent measures against e-cigarette distribution, ultimately seeking to preserve public health, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-03-11

 

 

[dinsdale]

I'm starting to wonder if this crackdown is permanent. I'm seeing vape shops as showing permanently closed online. Were showing temporarily closed. You can smoke cigarettes and dope but you can't vape. Madness. Legalize, tax and control. 10 months without a cig because of vaping now it's back to getting my nicotine from one of, if not the worst product for your health LEGALY available for purchase and consumption. This is Thaksin and others protecting the tobacco monopoly. Nothing, I repeat nothing to do with health.

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Nothing, I repeat nothing to do with health.

If you were really concerned about health you'd just give up any form of inhaling smoke?

[dinsdale]

8 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

If you were really concerned about health you'd just give up any form of inhaling smoke?

Only a non smoker would say this or someone who has successfully given up. This, however misses the point that Thailand says it's protecting the health of children and youth by cracking down on vapes when cigarettes a very dangerous and highly addictive product is legal and available everywhere with a flourishing online black-market.

[Globalres]

4 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Only a non smoker would say this or someone who has successfully given up. This, however misses the point that Thailand says it's protecting the health of children and youth by cracking down on vapes when cigarettes a very dangerous and highly addictive product is legal and available everywhere with a flourishing online black-market.

I totally agree with you.  I too am a vaper after having smoked for 45 years.  Absolutely ludicrous that this is going on.  It has helped many smokers quit cigarettes which are far more harmful to health than e- cigs.  Most of the rest of the world have acknowledged this.  But yet they would rather have youth smoking cigarettes than vape?

BTW is it illegal to own e-cigs?  If I have for personal use, could the police confiscate them?

[dinsdale]

7 minutes ago, Globalres said:

I totally agree with you.  I too am a vaper after having smoked for 45 years.  Absolutely ludicrous that this is going on.  It has helped many smokers quit cigarettes which are far more harmful to health than e- cigs.  Most of the rest of the world have acknowledged this.  But yet they would rather have youth smoking cigarettes than vape?

BTW is it illegal to own e-cigs?  If I have for personal use, could the police confiscate them?

Your comment is spot on. IMHO this is all about getting rid of the opposition (Thailand's good at this) and this crackdown order is coming from very high up to protect the tobacco monopoly interests i.e. profit. As for being illegal it is. Illegal to sell, illegal to purchase, illegal to have and illegal to smoke. Right now if the BIB catch you you're in big strife. Talking with a Thai a couple of hours ago about getting vapes online he said no. "Now very dangerous." I'm really pissed off and this order is being enforced by a non-elected government.

[Globalres]

2 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Your comment is spot on. IMHO this is all about getting rid of the opposition (Thailand's good at this) and this crackdown order is coming from very high up to protect the tobacco monopoly interests i.e. profit. As for being illegal it is. Illegal to sell, illegal to purchase, illegal to have and illegal to smoke. Right now if the BIB catch you you're in big strife. Talking with a Thai a couple of hours ago about getting vapes online he said no. "Now very dangerous." I'm really pissed off and this order is being enforced by a non-elected government.

How long time do you suspect that this will continue?  I’m flying from BKK to Kho Samui in about a week, would this be confiscated by security check?  
Do you believe that after this blitz that things will get back to “normal” again?

[dinsdale]

11 minutes ago, Globalres said:

How long time do you suspect that this will continue?  I’m flying from BKK to Kho Samui in about a week, would this be confiscated by security check?  
Do you believe that after this blitz that things will get back to “normal” again?

Don't know how long it will last. As for flying I doubt they'll be bothered going through screening at the airport but I'd be very discreet about having a puff outside the airport. Thing is though will your vape last until you go. Can't get vapes anywhere as far as I know. As for things getting back to "normal" I very much hope so and hope it happens soon. There's always the chance that this will be permanent until sometime down the track it's legalised. Wouldn't hold my breath on that one.