Bangkok Raids Uncover Chinese-Run E-Cigarette Network

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

Police have dismantled a major e-cigarette smuggling and production network operated by Chinese nationals in Bangkok, seizing thousands of vaping devices. The raids, carried out on 9 September by the Economic Crime Suppression Division, targeted a warehouse in Bang Khun Thian district and a property in Saraburi province. A total of 13 suspects were arrested, including two Chinese managers and 11 Myanmar workers without permits.

At the warehouse, investigators found 20,000 packaged e-cigarettes prepared for distribution, along with raw materials, liquid storage containers and equipment imported from China. The facility, police said, had been established as a central hub for distributing e-cigarettes and liquids across multiple provinces. The two Chinese suspects, identified as Mr Deng, 27 and Mr Gao, 37, face charges for running an illegal e-cigarette business, while the Myanmar nationals were charged with working without authorisation.

In a simultaneous operation, excise officials and Saraburi police uncovered an additional 350,000 e-cigarettes at a rental property in Wihar Daeng district. The devices had been transported from Bangkok’s Khlong Toei Port, highlighting the scale of the network’s logistics operations. Police Colonel Taspoom Charuprachya, who led the Bangkok raid, confirmed that all suspects have been handed over to investigators for prosecution.

Authorities noted that the raids were part of the government’s intensified crackdown on e-cigarettes, which remain banned in Thailand but continue to spread among young people. A 20-agency task force established earlier this year has already confiscated more than 1.2 million vaping products. Officials said the latest seizures further demonstrated the determination to curb illegal imports and local distribution.

Under Thai law, the sale, possession, or use of e-cigarettes carries severe penalties. Offenders can face up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to 1 million baht. Police reiterated their warning to the public, stressing that enforcement measures will remain strict to prevent the proliferation of illegal products.

The crackdown is expected to continue in the coming months as authorities pursue remaining members of the network and other groups linked to e-cigarette trafficking. Investigators are also examining financial records and supply chains connected to the raids in order to dismantle the wider operation.

Key Takeaways

• Police raided sites in Bangkok and Saraburi on 9 September, arresting 13 suspects.

• More than 370,000 e-cigarettes were seized, along with raw materials and equipment.

• The raids are part of Thailand’s ongoing crackdown on banned vaping products.

Related story:

Rising-e-cigarette-use-among-thai-youth-alarms-officials

https://aseannow.com/topic/1372238-police-seize-thousands-of-e-cigarettes-targeting-youth/

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-09-10