Pictures courtesy of The Pattaya News

 

In a decisive action against the illicit vape trade, Pattaya City Police arrested three individuals in a rigorous operation late last night. Following a tip-off, enforcement officers launched a well-coordinated sting operation around 11.36pm on March 17, leading to the seizure of seven fruit-flavoured vapes.

 

Utilising an undercover agent, the police orchestrated a meeting with the suspects via Facebook, disguising as a potential buyer of disposable vapes. The suspects – 31-year-old Jakarin, 41-year-old Teerapat, and 23-year-old Natsuda – arranged to meet the agent by Pattaya Beach, barely steps from the police station, to conduct their transaction.

 

 

 

At the meetup, each vape was sold for 350 baht, a seemingly ordinary deal that soon revealed its illegal nature. Upon completion of the exchange, police officers swiftly arrested the trio, confiscating the prohibited goods. The suspects later admitted to their roles in the operation, revealing that they profited 100 baht per unit by purchasing and reselling the vapes.

 

This bust forms part of a broader crackdown by Thai authorities tackling the growing problem of illegal e-cigarette sales. With the suspects now facing charges, police are determined to follow the trail further, aiming to dismantle larger supply networks fueling the trade. This operation signifies a strong stance in Thailand's continuous campaign to curb unauthorised vape sales nationwide, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-03-18

 

 

You can go to any beer bar and see and smell usually someone using a 'vape'/electronic cigarette, Out in the open and nobody seemingly cares. Essentially there is evidence to suggest vaping is less dangerous than the real thing.

Compared directly, vaping exposes you to fewer and lower levels of harmful substances than smoking, making it a less damaging option for adults looking to switch. The NHS and CDC acknowledge it can help smokers quit, which is a net health win if it replaces cigarettes entirely. But if you’re not already a smoker, starting to vape isn’t “healthy”—it’s just less bad than picking up a pack of Marlboros. The best health move is avoiding both.

You can legally buy cigarettes, but not E-cigarettes?? How odd!

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Following a tip-off,

Nuff said

Fruit flavours targeted.

 

Note to self: Reconsider investment into illicit vape trade. Stick to illicit dice gambling ventures.

 

 

11 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

You can go to any beer bar and see and smell usually someone using a 'vape'/electronic cigarette, Out in the open and nobody seemingly cares. Essentially there is evidence to suggest vaping is less dangerous than the real thing.

Compared directly, vaping exposes you to fewer and lower levels of harmful substances than smoking, making it a less damaging option for adults looking to switch. The NHS and CDC acknowledge it can help smokers quit, which is a net health win if it replaces cigarettes entirely. But if you’re not already a smoker, starting to vape isn’t “healthy”—it’s just less bad than picking up a pack of Marlboros. The best health move is avoiding both.

You can legally buy cigarettes, but not E-cigarettes?? How odd!

I agree entirely but I wonder when was the last time you saw someone vaping?

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

This operation signifies a strong stance in Thailand's continuous campaign to curb unauthorised vape sales nationwide,

Unauthorised as opposed to authorised?

Seven vapes confiscated. Almost as many as can be found in desk drawers in a police station.

2 hours ago, mikeymike100 said:

You can go to any beer bar and see and smell usually someone using a 'vape'/electronic cigarette, Out in the open and nobody seemingly cares. Essentially there is evidence to suggest vaping is less dangerous than the real thing.

Compared directly, vaping exposes you to fewer and lower levels of harmful substances than smoking, making it a less damaging option for adults looking to switch. The NHS and CDC acknowledge it can help smokers quit, which is a net health win if it replaces cigarettes entirely. But if you’re not already a smoker, starting to vape isn’t “healthy”—it’s just less bad than picking up a pack of Marlboros. The best health move is avoiding both.

You can legally buy cigarettes, but not E-cigarettes?? How odd!

It is sad.  I quit smoking about 8 yrs ago and switched to vaping.  I am pretty upset about this, needless to say.  However here’s an interesting read on vaping. 
 

https://www.ecigarettedirect.co.uk/ashtray-blog/2022/04/is-vaping-safe.html
 

im pretty sure that the raid on e-cigs in Thailand is for the protection of the tobacco industry.  Naming this raid “saving the public from harm” is ridiculous.  In Europe and I believe in the US it is well established that vapes are less harmful than cigarettes.  It seems Thailand lacks the infrastructure to regulate the liquid and the result is banning it totally.  They should instead make sure that the liquid imported is from reputable companies.

A cop at Immigration in Jomtien vapes on the street on his break.

Meanwhile flyovers are crashing down, dozens a day gets rubbed out on the roads, boats keep sinking, ladyboys keep robbing,

But luck would have it we have world class vape police to apprehend 7 of the blighters probably from just outside the asylum gates🤔

 

 

An off topic troll post breaking forum rules has been removed.

 

@malibukid this is the Pattaya regional section, so stop trying to hijack, with off your off topic political comments.

 

There are multiple relevant sections for your comments, so please post there.

 

 

20 hours ago, mikeymike100 said:

You can go to any beer bar and see and smell usually someone using a 'vape'/electronic cigarette, Out in the open and nobody seemingly cares.

I am more concerned here as it is obviously an illegal item, and heaven knows what gets put into them... could well be made by some oik in his garage. 

2 hours ago, jacko45k said:

I am more concerned here as it is obviously an illegal item, and heaven knows what gets put into them... could well be made by some oik in his garage. 

Why is it illegal? I'll tell you. No tax going to the govt. I've heard it's going to be another 5-6 mnths+ before vapes come back. When they do my guess is vaping will have been legalised and a tax put on them. As for the guys nabbed in this article they're in jail. 

21 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Why is it illegal? I'll tell you. No tax going to the govt. I've heard it's going to be another 5-6 mnths+ before vapes come back. When they do my guess is vaping will have been legalised and a tax put on them. As for the guys nabbed in this article they're in jail. 

That is not really the point though, just another one. I do hope they legalize them, and we have a supply of safely manufactured vapes, as of course they are much easier to live with than the old smelly cigarettes. With the hope they can stop kids using them..... ATM we seem to have little knowledge of how they affect health. Just another addictive drug people unnecessarily ingest.