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  • Police Bust Illegal E-Cigarette Factory in Bangkok

    Police Bust Illegal E-Cigarette Factory in Bangkok

    Thai police raided an illegal e-cigarette factory in Bangkok’s Bang Khunthian district, arresting two Chinese managers and seizing around 20,000 vaping products along with production equipment. The Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) acted on a tip that the facility, rented by Chinese investors, was being used to manufacture and store vaping devices and liquids, which are banned under Thai law.

    Two Chinese nationals were taken into custody and charged with colluding in the production and sale of illegal e-cigarettes. Authorities also detained 11 Myanmar nationals working at the warehouse, identified as illegal migrants. The suspects and seized materials have been handed over to ECD investigators for further legal action.

  • Hong Kong Tobacco Inspectors to Wear Body Cameras

    Hong Kong Tobacco Inspectors to Wear Body Cameras

    Hong Kong’s Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office will equip inspectors with body cameras starting today (August 20) as they enforce the city’s smoking ban. The move comes after fixed penalty notices for smoking offences rose nearly 31% last year, with 13,488 citations. New enforcement measures, including plain-clothes officers and extended surveillance, have been credited with the increase in penalties.

    The Department of Health said cameras will document enforcement activities and conflicts, with individuals notified before recording. Footage without evidential value will be deleted after 31 days.

    Lawmakers are also reviewing broader anti-smoking proposals, including expanded non-smoking zones near entrances to schools, hospitals, and elderly homes, a ban on public use of alternative smoking products from April 2026, and restrictions on flavored tobacco sales from mid-2027.

  • Ireland’s Crackdown on Vape Sales to Minors Sees Few Consequences

    Ireland’s Crackdown on Vape Sales to Minors Sees Few Consequences

    Nearly 15% of retailers across Ireland have been caught violating laws banning the sale of vapes to children, with only a fraction facing legal consequences, according to new figures from the Health Service Executive (HSE). Enacted in December 2023, the law makes it illegal to sell nicotine-inhaling products to those under 18 years old. Since then, the HSE’s National Environmental Health Service has carried out 699 test-purchase inspections and found 102 to be non-compliant.

    Of the 52 cases of non-compliance recorded in 2024, just 19 resulted in court proceedings to date. Only 12 led to convictions and fines, while six were resolved under the Probation Act, and one was dismissed.

    Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly said the low number of prosecutions undermines the law’s credibility: “A law is only as strong as its enforceability. We have to make sure retailers are complying.”

  • Queensland Seizes 45M Cigarettes, 350K Vapes in Black Market Crackdown

    Queensland Seizes 45M Cigarettes, 350K Vapes in Black Market Crackdown

    Queensland Health (Australia) seized 45 million illegal cigarettes, 350,000 vapes, and over six tons of loose-leaf tobacco since November 2024, as part of a statewide crackdown on the illicit tobacco trade. Authorities say new laws introduced in May have strengthened penalties and enforcement powers, aiming to dismantle the growing illicit tobacco network.

    The surge in black market activity comes despite recent government efforts to tighten enforcement. A 2024 Brisbane Times investigation found widespread illegal sales across Brisbane, with foreign brands like Manchester, Double Happiness, and ESSE openly sold at half the price of legal products.

  • Dutch Authorities Seize Record Illegal Flavored Vapes

    Dutch Authorities Seize Record Illegal Flavored Vapes

    Dutch product safety authority NVWA and customs officials confiscated 80,000 illegal vapes in a record seizure at a storage facility near Schiphol Airport, marking the country’s largest bust of its kind to date.

    The Chinese-made vapes, flavored with now-banned ingredients like watermelon and kiwi, violate the Netherlands’ 2024 ban on flavored vaping products. The total estimated market value is in the hundreds of thousands of euros, and officials believe the products were intended for domestic distribution.

    This marks the second major seizure from the same importer. In May, authorities intercepted 70,000 vape refills containing similar illegal flavorings. While no fines can be issued because the products were confiscated before reaching consumers, the importer must cover the cost of destroying the vapes, the NVWA confirmed.

    The bust comes amid a broader crackdown led by junior health minister Vincent Karremans, who in May launched an anti-vaping campaign targeting youth vaping, sales of illegal products, and health risks.

  • Nearly $250K in Illegal Nicotine Products Seized in U.K.

    Nearly $250K in Illegal Nicotine Products Seized in U.K.

    Thousands of illegal nicotine products were seized in South West, England, last week as Trading Standards South West (TSSW) and police officers raided 50 locations over five days across the region. Part of Operation CeCe, officials seized 127,371 cigarettes, 65.94kg (2,326 oz) of hand-rolling tobacco, 4,490 vapes, and 2.5kg (88 oz) of shisha, all illegal, with a total value of £186,000 ($241,800).

    “Members of [the] public need to be aware of [the] serious criminal association that these products have to criminal gangs,” said Ben Hayes, the regional illegal tobacco and vape lead at TSSW. “I urge anyone with concerns about sales of illegal tobacco and vaping products, including their underage sales, to report them to Trading Standards South West.”

  • Thailand Turns Up Fight Against Vapes

    Thailand Turns Up Fight Against Vapes

    Thailand’s Office Minister Jiraporn Sindhuprai chaired a meeting with 20 government agencies for the second consecutive week, discussing measures to curb the spread of e-cigarettes. Sindhuprai said they are focusing on three key strategies: strict law enforcement cracking down on illegal e-cigarettes, preventive efforts to curb their spread, and related legal reforms. She also said a proposal to set up a special committee overseeing these efforts has been submitted.

    Thailand’s Digital Economy and Society Ministry blocked more than 9,000 web pages illegally selling e-cigarettes and is working with entrepreneurs to prevent search terms related to such products and shut down websites that attempt to sell them. They are also increasing enforcement on logistics companies that are required to display clear notices prohibiting the shipment of e-cigarettes and accessories, have enhanced security measures, scan suspicious packages, and retain sender data for at least 30 days.

    According to Royal Thai Police, there were 666 vape-related cases between Feb. 26 and March 4, with 690 suspects arrested and 454,958 items worth over 41 million baht ($1.2 million) seized.