Police Seize 30 Million Baht Worth of E-Cigarettes in Major Bangkok Raid
Massive Illegal Vaping Operation Uncovered in Phet Kasem District
On March 1st, 2025, Bangkok police uncovered a major illegal e-cigarette operation during a raid on a warehouse in the Phet Kasem district. The operation was prompted by a tip-off from an anonymous source, leading officers to a four-storey commercial building on Kanlapaphruek Road in the Bang Khae area.
The raid, led by Police Major General Chotiwat Lueangwilai, Commander of the Investigation Division of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, resulted in the discovery of a massive stockpile of illegal vaping products.
Massive Seizure of E-Cigarettes
Inside the warehouse, police found an extensive inventory of illegal e-cigarette products. On the ground floor, authorities seized 568 boxes containing 227,200 e-cigarette cartridges, valued at 22.72 million baht. Further searches on the upper floors revealed an additional 116,400 units worth 11.64 million baht. In total, officers confiscated over 343,600 e-cigarette liquid cartridges and 10,000 ready-to-use e-cigarettes, with a combined value of approximately 30 million baht.
Arrest of Suspect
Police arrested one man at the scene who identified himself as a freelance transporter. While he admitted to knowing the goods were illegal, he claimed it was his first job with the operation. The suspect has been taken into custody, and investigations are ongoing. Authorities are now working to identify the source of the smuggled e-cigarettes, which are suspected to have entered Thailand without customs duties being paid.
Crackdown on Online E-Cigarette Sales
The raid is part of an ongoing crackdown on e-cigarettes, ordered by the Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police. Major General Chotiwat noted that many sellers have shifted to online platforms to avoid detection, following intensified enforcement against physical shops. Police are focusing on dismantling the smuggling network and tracking down the masterminds behind the operation.
Public Reminder on E-Cigarette Laws
Major General Chotiwat reminded the public that possession of e-cigarettes remains illegal in Thailand under various laws, including the Customs Act and Ministry of Commerce regulations.
The raid was carried out with the cooperation of the Metropolitan Police Investigation Division, Metropolitan Police Investigation Division 9, and Phet Kasem Police Station. All seized items have been documented as evidence as police continue their investigation.
