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Category: News This Week

  • Thailand Police Bust $58K Per Day Vape Ring

    Thailand Police Bust $58K Per Day Vape Ring

    Police in Thailand arrested three Chinese suspects, two men and a woman, in a sting operation in Pattaya and seized vape pens and zombie-vape liquid from the suspects, who allegedly admitted to sales worth 2 million baht ($58,000) a day. They were charged with the illegal sale of e-cigarettes and vaping liquid and with selling contraband goods.

    Police Major General Patanasak Bupphasawan said the suspects admitted daily sales of about 1,000 e-cigarettes to tourists and young people. The arresting team also seized about 100 grams of powdered etomidate anesthetic, e-cigarettes, and equipment for mixing the anesthetic and e-liquid to make zombie-vape fluid. The seized products were worth about 513,590 baht ($15,000).

  • Vape Batteries Causing Rise in Waste Fires

    Vape Batteries Causing Rise in Waste Fires

    Last year was “a year of growth” for Fire Rover, but as a company that specializes in fire detection and suppression, that’s not entirely good news. The company, which releases annual reports on waste and recycling facility fires in the U.S. and Canada, said it saw a 60% increase in fire identifications in 2024. Confirmed fires have increased from 1,409 in 2022, to 1,809 in 2023, to 2,910 last year. Publicly reported fire incidents at waste and recycling facilities also hit 398, a new high since Fire Rover began compiling its report eight years ago.

    Fires at waste facilities are nothing new and can be sparked from numerous causes. However, Ryan Fogelman, CEO of Fire Rover, says lithium-ion batteries pose a growing problem, specifically those from e-cigarettes, vapes, and other battery-powered nicotine devices. He said, based on his experience and some assumptions, that about half of the fires he’s tracking originate with batteries. Roughly $2.5 billion of loss to facilities and infrastructure came from fires last year, divided between traditional hazards and batteries.

    “Not only are their batteries being improperly discarded in waste and recycling bins, but the vape industry has done the bare minimum to invest in the technology needed to address the 1.2 billion vapes entering our waste and recycling streams annually,” Fogelman said.

    “Vapes are perhaps the most effective single thing the e-waste and recycling industries could target,” Kevin Purdy, wrote for ARS Technica. “If everybody knew how to dispose of vapes properly, at sites that can safely handle them, there could be a reduction in risk.

    “But that safe, evenly distributed vape disposal network does not exist.”

  • Escobar Cigars to France

    Escobar Cigars to France

    Escobar Cigars continues its international expansion, announcing that it has signed a distribution agreement with Eurotab to distribute its products in France.

    “We are thrilled to partner with Eurotab France to bring our handcrafted cigars to discerning smokers in France,” said David Gomes, founder of Escobar, in a press release. Eurotab expects to have Escobar’s cigars in 30 shops by the end of April.

  • Fratello Cigars Signs New Deal in U.K.

    Fratello Cigars Signs New Deal in U.K.

    Fratello announced that it has signed a new agreement with Tabac World Ltd., to distribute its cigars in the U.K. Tabac World is run by Keith Allen and his daughter Lyndsay France.

    “I am ecstatic to join Keith and Lyndsay in this journey,” said Omar de Frias, founder of Fratello, in a press release. “When we met a few years back at the Premium Cigar Association, their passion for cigars and dedication to their customers aligned perfectly with our core values.”

    With the addition of the U.K., Fratello says its cigars are sold in approximately 30 countries.

    “We’re thrilled to bring Fratello Cigars to the UK market,” said France. “Fratello’s distinctive style offers something truly exciting for our specialist retailers. We’re proud to partner with a brand that shares our passion for quality, relationships, and innovation in the premium cigar space.”

  • Plasencia to Feature New 5-Packs at PCA

    Plasencia to Feature New 5-Packs at PCA

    With PCA 2025 around the corner, many cigar companies are announcing their upcoming releases this week. Plasencia Cigars said it plans to introduce a new series of five-packs, featuring the popular award-winning Alma Fuerte and Alma Del Campo blends. Six variations of the five-packs will now be available on the market. After strong sales performance on the global Duty-Free channel, and successful tests in a limited number of duty-paid markets, Plasencia is introducing these formats across all channels.

    “The new 5-pack presentation features our finest cigars, meticulously crafted with the same dedication and expertise that Plasencia Cigars is renowned for,” the company said in a release. “This compact size is ideal for busy individuals who appreciate the luxury of a premium cigar but also require a more practical option for their active lifestyles.”

    There are six variations of the five packs, ranging in price from $85.50 per pack to $116.75.

    “This offering not only meets the needs of our on-the-go premium cigar consumer but also provides retailers with an excellent opportunity to enhance their merchandising and sales strategies,” said Victor Lilue, CMO of Plasencia Cigars.

  • Brian King, Dozens of Staffers Out at CTP

    Brian King, Dozens of Staffers Out at CTP

    The Associated Press is reporting that Brian King, the Food and Drug Administration’s chief tobacco regulator, was removed from his post this morning (April 1) amid sweeping cuts at the agency and across the federal health workforce. According to sources familiar with the situation, King sent an email to staff saying, “It is with a heavy heart and profound disappointment that I share I have been placed on administrative leave.”

    King was removed from his position and offered reassignment to the Indian Health Service, according to a person familiar with the matter who did not have permission to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. Dozens of staffers in the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) also received notices of dismissal Tuesday morning, including the entire office responsible for enforcing tobacco regulations.

    In recent years, the CTP has been besieged by criticism from all sides, including politicians, anti-smoking advocates, and tobacco and vaping companies. Under King, the FDA rejected applications for millions of flavored e-cigarettes, citing insufficient data that the products would help adult smokers while not becoming popular with underage kids. Those rejections have resulted in multiple lawsuits against FDA from vape makers.

    “King, who joined the agency in 2022, has been vigorously criticized by vaping lobbyists for ordering thousands of companies to remove their fruit and candy-flavored e-cigarettes from the market,” the AP wrote. “During his time at FDA, teen vaping has fallen to a 10-year low.”

    The latest changes mean that nearly all of FDA’s top leaders overseeing drugs, food, vaccines, medical devices, and now tobacco products have resigned or retired in recent months. This comes after Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s moves to fire 3,500 FDA staffers and push ahead with plans to scrutinize ultra-processed foods, childhood vaccines, antidepressants, and other long-established products.

  • Fire Ravages AJ Fernandez’s Main Factory in Nicaragua

    Fire Ravages AJ Fernandez’s Main Factory in Nicaragua

    A fire has ravaged Tabacalera AJ Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A. in Estelí, Nicaragua, the main factory for the AJ Fernandez operation. According to local news reports, everyone including the company’s school, was evacuated safely with no serious injuries reported.

    According to Halfwheel, the factory is one of the largest in the world, producing cigars for a long list of companies, including some of the world’s largest, like Altadis U.S.A. and General Cigar Co., and smaller brands like Foundation Cigar Co. and Artesano del Tobacco. AJ Fernandez operates another factory, the San Lotano Factory, in Ocotal, about 40 miles north of Estelí.

    Videos showed firefighters battling a large blaze in one of the buildings. Multiple sources said the fire appears to be in the packaging department, and it’s unclear how much of the rest of the building has been damaged.

    “From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone who has reached out, prayed for us, and stood by our side during this incredibly difficult time,” the company said in a statement. “Your love and support mean more than words can express. We are beyond grateful for the strength of our community, our team, and all those who have shown up for us. Above all, we are thankful that everyone is safe. In moments like these, we’re reminded of the power of unity and we feel it now more than ever. We will move forward, united, resilient, and more committed than ever to what we stand for.”

  • Leaked EU Document Calls for “Substantial” Taxes on Nicotine Pouches

    Leaked EU Document Calls for “Substantial” Taxes on Nicotine Pouches

    According to The Vaping Post, a confidential European Commission (EC) document, leaked by Snusjournalen, has revealed a contentious plan to impose a substantial EU-wide tax increase on nicotine pouches (NPs). Spearheaded by the Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD), the proposed measure could trigger widespread economic, political, and criminal repercussions across the Union.

    Europe already finds itself in a tenuous economic situation, dealing with economic instability that includes inflation and escalating trade tensions with the United States. Worse on the nicotine front, a recent Europol report shared by Euroreporter, “The Changing DNA of Serious and Organised Crime,” highlights the direct link between excessive taxation and the rise of black markets—specifically citing tobacco and nicotine products. The report warns that strict tax policies create opportunities for criminal networks to expand operations, smuggle products across borders, and launder illicit funds. Experts fear that a steep price increase on NPs could drive a surge in illicit sales, with products being illegally imported from non-EU nations like China.

    Although the European Commission has yet to confirm the directive publicly, the leak has already sparked significant concerns among key stakeholders, including law enforcement, investors, and consumer advocacy groups. Given Europol’s warnings on illicit trade and the broader political and economic climate, this proposed tax increase is shaping up to be one of the most contentious regulatory battles in the coming months.

    “In light of these developments, the proposed tax hike on NPs adds yet another layer of uncertainty to an already volatile regulatory and economic landscape,” wrote The Vaping Post. “More importantly, with the vaping industry currently facing such a critical juncture, which could result in less availability of vaping products to smokers using them to quit, a harsh tax set on snus would be currently all the more detrimental to public health.”

  • Tennessee Bill Would Outlaw Most Vape Products

    Tennessee Bill Would Outlaw Most Vape Products

    A bill in Tennessee that would impose a state tax of up to 10% on vape products – a higher rate than tobacco – and effectively ban the sale of many vape products in the state by requiring application for FDA approval before products are sold is headed for a final Senate vote this week. Senate Bill 763 passed the Senate Finance Committee in a 9-2 vote, and a counterpart House panel with bipartisan support.

    Bill sponsor Ken Yager said the bill is aimed at stopping “the influx of Chinese vape products that are addicting our children and wreaking havoc on our schools” ― not an attack on Tennessee’s vape industry. However, critics say it is a “legislative weapon for big tobacco to crush competition.”

    “I don’t take my orders from big tobacco,” Yager told reporters.

    If signed into law, the bill would ban the sale of vapor products including hundreds of disposable and flavored products in Tennessee that are not approved or in the process of being approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Currently, just 34 vapor products have been approved by the FDA, and all are tied to big tobacco companies. Most vape products sold in the U.S. are imported from China. If passed, the bill would fine vape retailers $500 to $1,500 per product illegally sold.

    According to The Tennessean, Tennessee is one of about 20 states that does not currently levy a tax on vape products. If passed, the bill would impose a 10% tax on open system vape products and a 7% tax on closed system vape products. Tennessee taxes tobacco products at 6.6%. Yager told reporters his proposed tax on vape products “is really no different from the tax on other nicotine products.”

  • CAPHRA Urges COP11 Attendees to Shift View on Harm Reduction 

    CAPHRA Urges COP11 Attendees to Shift View on Harm Reduction 

    The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) today (March 31) urged global tobacco control policymakers to abandon outdated prohibitionist approaches and embrace harm reduction strategies grounded in science.  

    Ahead of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control’s (FCTC) COP11 meeting later this year, CAPHRA emphasized that meaningful progress requires inclusion, transparency, and a commitment to evidence-based policymaking. 

    Despite decades of tobacco control efforts, global smoking rates have stagnated at 1.1 billion smokers since 2000. CAPHRA attributes this failure to the FCTC’s refusal to engage with harm reduction strategies or include consumer organizations in its decision-making processes. 

    “The FCTC’s ‘quit or die’ approach has failed. It’s time for a mindset shift that prioritizes science over ideology and inclusion over exclusion,” Nancy Loucas, CAPHRA Executive Coordinator, said. “Consumer organizations like CAPHRA represent millions who have successfully transitioned to safer alternatives—our lived experiences must inform policy. 

    “COP11 presents an opportunity for the WHO FCTC to finally grant observer status to consumer advocacy groups. Without the voices of those directly impacted by tobacco harm reduction strategies, policymaking remains disconnected from reality. The secrecy surrounding COP meetings undermines trust and progress. Hosting open consultations with civil society during proceedings would ensure accountability and bring much-needed balance to global tobacco control discussions.”