Pictures courtesy of Khaosod 

 

Police have arrested a Chinese national during a raid on a rented house in Pattaya, uncovering a large-scale illegal e-cigarette operation with products valued at more than 10 million baht. The operation also revealed a suspicious white powder believed to be a possible anaesthetic, raising concerns about public health risks linked to illegal vaping products.

 

The raid was carried out on December 20, 2025, by officers from the Economic Crime Division after receiving intelligence that e-cigarettes and vape pods were being sold in bulk from the property. Authorities said the products were distributed to middlemen and reached both Thai and foreign tourists, including through online sales channels.

 

Police surveillance observed frequent visits by pickup trucks to the house, prompting officers to seek a search warrant from the Pattaya Provincial Court. The property is located in Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chonburi province. The suspect, identified as Zhang, 36, was arrested inside the house during the raid. Officers seized nearly 5,000 ready-to-use vape pods, around 15,000 empty cartridges, 18,000 vape coils, 300 e-cigarette devices and approximately 85 gallons of vaping liquid.

 

In addition to finished products, police confiscated manufacturing and packaging equipment, including tens of thousands of vape caps, packaging materials, vacuum sealers, heating machines, digital scales, beakers, tubing and chemical solvents. Authorities also found 11 bags of white cloudy and clear powder weighing more than 3.8 kilograms.

 

Zhang told investigators he was hired by a Chinese acquaintance to watch over the house and deliver e-cigarettes as instructed, earning 40,000 baht per month. He claimed he was unaware the products were illegal and said the person who hired him had returned to China about a week earlier.

 

Police charged Zhang with assisting in the concealment, sale or transport of goods that should have been known to have bypassed customs procedures and with operating a business without complying with safety regulations. Pol. Lt. Gen. Thatsapoomi Jaruprat, commander of the Economic Crime Division, said the seized powder has been sent for forensic testing to determine whether it contains etomidate, a medical anaesthetic used to induce temporary unconsciousness.

 

Khoasod reported that he warned that if such substances are mixed into e-cigarettes, they pose serious health risks, including respiratory depression, heart rhythm disorders and severe psychological effects. Authorities said the investigation is continuing as they work to identify and locate the suspected ringleader, who is believed to have fled abroad.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Police seized illegal vaping products worth more than 10 million baht during a Pattaya raid on December 20, 2025.

• A Chinese national was arrested and charged in connection with concealing and distributing illegally imported goods.

• Suspicious powder found at the site is being tested for etomidate due to potential serious health risks.

 

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 Adapted  by  Asean Now from Khaosod/ 2025-12-21

 

 

"Zhang told investigators he was hired by a Chinese acquaintance to watch over the house and deliver e-cigarettes as instructed, earning 40,000 baht per month. He claimed he was unaware the products were illegal and said the person who hired him had returned to China about a week earlier."

 

So he earned 40,000 baht per month for doing 'nothing' ? He didn't find that was strange?

Fortunate the person who hired him had returned home???😅

On 12/21/2025 at 8:32 AM, mikeymike100 said:

"Zhang told investigators he was hired by a Chinese acquaintance to watch over the house and deliver e-cigarettes as instructed, earning 40,000 baht per month. He claimed he was unaware the products were illegal and said the person who hired him had returned to China about a week earlier."

 

So he earned 40,000 baht per month for doing 'nothing' ? He didn't find that was strange?

Fortunate the person who hired him had returned home???😅

Amazing this stuff still finds it's way through customs