CHONBURI, Thailand – Authorities have seized over 201,400 smuggled e-cigarette products worth approximately 40 million baht in an operation at Laem Chabang Port in Chonburi province. The Department of Special Investigation (DSI), in coordination with the Customs Department and the Royal Thai Police, intercepted the shipment following a tip-off about an illegal transit attempt from China. The confiscated cargo included 23,400 disposable e-cigarettes, 6,000 bottles of e-liquid, and 172,000 pre-filled e-cigarette pods.
The operation targeted a container identified as MRSU3507211, which was immediately seized to prevent its movement. A thorough inspection confirmed the presence of the prohibited goods, which violate multiple Thai laws, including the Customs Act and regulations banning the import and transit of e-cigarettes through the country. Authorities are now investigating the smuggling network behind the shipment.
E-cigarettes and baraku (hookah) remain illegal in Thailand under a 2014 Ministry of Commerce directive that prohibits their import, distribution, and transit. The Customs Department has increased oversight of electronic goods passing through Thai ports in recent years to curb illegal trade.
A press conference detailing the seizure will be held tomorrow (March 10) at the Laem Chabang Port Customs Office. Officials from the Ministry of Justice, the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Ministry of Finance are expected to provide further updates on legal proceedings and enforcement measures. (NNT)
