Thai police seize 1.9 billion baht in e-cigarette crackdown
In the past six months, a money-laundering crackdown has resulted in the seizure of over 1.9 billion baht and the arrest of more than 2,300 people involved in offences related to e-cigarettes and laughing gas. This information comes from the Royal Thai Police.
Deputy national police chief Prachuap Wongsuk, who serves as the director of the Anti-Money Laundering Centre, recently conducted a joint press conference with senior officials from the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), Metropolitan Police Bureau, Consumer Protection Police Division, and Provincial Police Region 1 and 2.
Between October 1 last year and March 31, the centre pursued 252 money laundering cases, resulting in the confiscation of assets valued at 1.9 billion baht.
In the crackdown on e-cigarettes, police arrested approximately 2,337 suspects from February 26 to last Sunday, April 6, confiscating over 1.6 million vaping products valued at more than 296 million baht.
Investigations into 22 significant cases revealed transaction routes that led to asset seizures worth over 202 million baht.
The crackdown is part of Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra administration’s initiative to combat e-cigarettes by seizing the products, along with the offenders’ financial assets.
According to AMLO, if e-cigarette-related offences violate the Customs Act, they can also be prosecuted under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, which allows for both criminal charges and asset confiscation.
All relevant agencies have been directed to collaborate with AMLO to develop measures for controlling e-cigarettes.
The measures focus on schools, warehouses, and online vendors, with officials also coordinating with the Customs Department to prevent the smuggling of such items, reported Bangkok Post.
Prachuap urged the police to intensify their efforts to prevent the illegal importation, distribution, possession, and storage of e-cigarettes and nitrous oxide.
He noted that the widespread use of e-cigarettes has led to public disturbances and health issues, affecting not only users but also those around them, particularly young people.
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