Picture courtesy of Matichon.

 

Police in Bang Lamung have uncovered an illegal e-cigarette operation disguised as a convenience store. Officers from the Bang Lamung Police Station raided the shop in Soi Pornprapanimit 2, Nong Prue, on 30 August at 00:35 hrs, seizing more than 600 items including electronic cigarettes, vape coils, e-liquids and disposable vapes.

 

The operation followed public complaints that a clever individual was using a small retail outlet as a front while running a full-scale e-cigarette business from the back. Upon inspection, officers found the front of the shop selling general goods, while the rear contained an air-conditioned room with glass display cabinets stocked with a wide variety of vaping products.

 

The shop owner, identified only as Ms A, was taken into custody along with two employees. Authorities also seized over 20,000 baht in cash generated from vape sales. During the arrest, attempts were made by individuals in the store to negotiate with officers, but police refused, warning that any attempts at bribery would result in additional charges.

 

Ms A admitted to selling e-cigarettes from the premises for over four months. The business originally operated as a fruit shop but was converted to a convenience store to avoid suspicion. Despite the attempt to disguise the operation, it was ultimately detected by police.

 

This is not the first time the her shops has been apprehended for illegal vape sales. Previous incidents and government crackdowns on e-cigarettes have prompted the owners to change locations and shop fronts, but authorities have now closed down the operation once again.

 

The seized items and suspects have been handed over to the Bang Lamung Police investigation unit for further legal action.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-09-01

 

 

 

They are quite creative in their subterfuge here, 

I always recall a little hidey hole in a T-Shirt stall that contained a fake luxury watch display area inside, air conditioned too! Also a GGB with mirrors that had a secret door that the girls would dive through if the place got raided. 

This whole thing is ridiculous. The online realm is packed full of vape sites. 

Insufficient tribute or paid to an insufficiently influential cop. 

I'm sure that the Tobacco Authority of Thailand, a state enterprise controlled by the Ministry of Finance, will be very happy with this outcome.