Sattahip police spark up vape raid, puff arrests and confiscations

Police officers in Sattahip conducted a raid on an illegal electronic cigarette shop in the Sri Racha district, Chon Buri province yesterday, resulting in the arrest of a sales employee and the confiscation of hundreds of vaping products.

The operation, ordered by district chief Nopparat Sriprom, took place after concerned residents reported the shop for selling illegal electronic cigarettes. Police and administrative officials targeted the shop in the Bueng area, employing a decoy to purchase e-liquid as part of their sting operation.

Upon the decoy receiving the product, law enforcement officers, who had been monitoring the situation, revealed their identities and inspected the premises. Inside, they found one employee, identified as Yim, who was allegedly responsible for selling various types of electronic cigarettes for a daily wage of 500 baht.

When questioned, Yim disclosed that a man named Toon owned the shop. The inspection revealed 366 electronic cigarettes and 686 e-cigarette cartridges displayed for sale. Officers also found the money used in the undercover purchase inside the cash register.

Police charged the employee and the owner with concealing, selling, transporting, purchasing, or receiving goods known to be imported into the country without proper customs clearance, violating Section 246 of the Customs Act of 2017. This offence carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, or a fine of up to four times the value of the goods, or both. The suspects were taken into custody and handed over to investigators at Nong Kham Police Station, reported Pattaya News.

The crackdown on illegal electronic cigarette sales comes amid growing concerns over the health risks associated with vaping, as well as the legal issues surrounding the importation and sale of such products. Police are stepping up efforts to curb the proliferation of illegal vaping products, aiming to protect public health and ensure compliance with existing laws.