Malaysian National Arrested in Bangkok for Running Illegal Online E-Cigarette Business

Picture courtesy of SiamRath.

Police in Bangkok have arrested a 40-year-old Malaysian man along with two Thai accomplices after discovering a large stash of illegal e-cigarette products being sold online from a rented house in the Lat Phrao area.

The operation was led by Pol. Maj. Gen. Thanantorn Rattanasitthiphak, Commander of Metropolitan Police Division 4, with support from senior officers at Lat Phrao Police Station. Officers raided the property, located in a housing estate off Soi Lat Phrao 101, following a tip-off about a possible online e-cigarette distribution hub operating out of the house.

Arrested at the scene were Mr. Han, a Malaysian national aged 40, Mr. Phattharaphong 26 and Mr. Thatthaphong 24, both Thai nationals. Inside the home, officers found a vast quantity of e-cigarette-related items, 1,028 pieces in total, including devices, liquid pods, cartridges, packing materials, and shipping supplies.

The items were found stored in the living room on the ground floor of the property.

According to police, the suspects confessed that the products belonged to them and admitted to operating an illegal sales network. Orders were reportedly received via a private LINE group, with customers transferring payment directly to a bank account. The group would then package and ship the products to buyers throughout the country.

E-cigarettes and related products are currently illegal for sale and distribution in Thailand and the suspects now face charges for possession and sale of prohibited items.

Police have stated that investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of the operation and to identify any additional individuals involved in the network.

  Adapted by Asean Now from SiamRath 2025-07-09