Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

In a high-profile raid conducted by police, a major online e-cigarette distributor with a customer base spanning the country has been arrested. The suspect, identified as Mr. Thonnon, 41, was found in possession of over 100,000 vaping products worth more than 50 million baht at a commercial building in the Prawet district of Bangkok.

 

The operation was led by Police General Prachuap Wongsuk, Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, in coordination with officers from the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) and the Metropolitan Police Bureau. The arrest was carried out at a four-storey commercial unit located in the Cape Biz Sector along Sukhaphiban 2 Road, which had been covertly transformed into a central distribution warehouse and packaging centre.

 

Authorities began investigating after discovering a secret Line group named “Nai Khieow Khajee” (“Mr. Verdant Green”), which served as a hub for the illegal sale of vaping products. The group operated as a large-scale online dealer, using private courier services to discreetly ship items across Thailand while avoiding official scrutiny.

 

Upon entering the premises with a court-issued search warrant, officers found the building filled with boxes of vaping devices, e-liquid pods and related paraphernalia. A team of around 10 employees was in the process of packing orders for distribution when police intervened.

 

During questioning, Mr. Thonnon admitted ownership of the entire inventory and confessed that he had been running the operation for over two years, sourcing the products from Chinese suppliers. He revealed that daily revenue ranged between 300,000 and 500,000 baht, with annual financial transactions exceeding 100 million baht.

 

Authorities have charged him with the illegal sale and distribution of e-cigarettes and related liquids, as well as with concealing and trading goods smuggled into the Kingdom without customs clearance. He was taken into custody and handed over, along with the seized items, to investigators from the CPPD’s Subdivision 1 for further legal proceedings.

 

Thailand maintains a strict ban on the importation and sale of e-cigarettes, and officials continue to clamp down on illegal networks that exploit online platforms to circumvent the law.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-05-30.

 

 

 

And to think the Gov could be taxing that and so doing some good for the country