Consumer Protection Police raid major e-cigarette warehouse selling online in northern region

Consumer Protection Police raided the warehouse of YAI VAPE, a major online e-cigarette wholesaler in the North, seizing 31,790 items of evidence worth approximately 10 million baht. A new smoker was found, a 12-year-old schoolgirl. The e-cigarette was developed to be able to be puffed up to 20,000 times per unit, allowing children and young people to buy and share them. Consumer Protection Police Division announced the results of the operation against a major online e-cigarette dealer in the northern region, seizing 31,790 items worth approximately 10 million baht. Pol. Lt. Gen. Nirandorn Luemsri, assistant national police chief, said that the YAI VAPE network that was arrested had been in business for more than 4 years, with a monthly turnover of approximately 10 million baht. The customer base was in the upper northern provinces. From the seized evidence, it was found that there were many different forms of e-cigarettes, both in appearance that appealed to children and developed to be able to be smoked up to 20,000 times per unit, allowing children and young people to buy and share them, as well as various flavors such as milk and candy. Previously, the Consumer Protection Police Division investigated and found that there was a promotion of selling e-cigarettes and devices via a website. When people were interested, they would invite them to chat in a LINE group. Officers therefore went to the area to investigate, which took more than 3 months. This was because this network used a house to be a private transportation company to deceive officers. Then, on August 15, they proceeded to request a search warrant from the court and searched a house in a village in San Sai District, Chiang Mai Province. They found evidence of e-cigarettes, e-cigarette liquids, and devices, totaling 31,790 items, worth approximately 10 million baht. They also found Mr. Saranyu inside the house, who admitted that he was the owner of the e-cigarette shop and was the one who received the money directly into the account, distributed t he products online, and packed and shipped the products according to the orders. Therefore, he was arrested and charged with selling prohibited goods under the Consumer Protection Act and the offense of hiding illegally imported goods under the Customs Act. They will investigate whether it is a money laundering offense or not. / As for the original production source, the police now have information, but the original production source is not illegal. Therefore, they must be strict about imports. They have coordinated with the Ministry of Public Health to solve the legal loopholes. Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Thanakrit Jit-Areerat, Advisor to the Minister of Public Health, stated that from the investigation, it was found that in Nakhon Pathom Province, there were local politicians and deputy mayors of the Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO) who were involved in wrongdoing, and they have now been ordered to resign from their civil service. As for the seized evidence, the Ministry of Public Health will take it to the Department of Medical Sciences to test for substances in e-cigarettes. He emphasized that e-cigarettes, regardless of which country they come from, are still illegal in Thailand. All agencies must work hard to suppress them. He also asked all areas to be vigilant. If negligence is found, consideration may be given to immediately adjusting and transferring the administration in the area. In addition, e-cigarettes have changed and developed their form, such as being able to be smoked many times, fashionable appearance, made into cartoon characters, and having a neck strap so that children and teenagers can deceive their parents and teachers. E-cigarettes have negative effects on health, containing nicotine / mercury / lead / and other substances such as cannabis oil that is mixed to make smokers like it more. From the arrest, it was found that the smoker was a female student in junior high school, only 12 years old, which is a matter of concern. Therefore, I would like to have a law to directly contr ol it. As for the sale of e-cigarettes, it is an offense under the law, with a penalty of imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or a fine not exceeding 600,000 baht, or both. Source: Thai News Agency