BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand has stepped up its nationwide crackdown on the illegal trade and online promotion of e-cigarettes, with over 9,500 online sources blocked over the past year. The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES), led by Deputy Prime Minister Prasert Chandraruangthong, reported efforts to disrupt the sale, importation, and advertising of vaping products through social media platforms and websites.
Between March 2024 and March 19, 2025, authorities removed 9,515 digital entities linked to e-cigarettes. Most were entries on Platform X (formerly Twitter), which accounted for 9,226 takedowns. Other removals included 235 websites, 120 Facebook groups, 28 Facebook pages, 14 TikTok accounts, and 12 Instagram accounts. In addition, the ministry’s monitoring tools flagged hundreds of posts from both sellers and buyers advertising or seeking to purchase e-cigarettes.
The DES Ministry has warned that violations of e-cigarette laws in Thailand carry severe penalties.
Selling or providing vaping products can result in up to three years in prison or fines of up to 600,000 baht. Possession or purchase may lead to up to five years in prison and fines of four times the product’s value. Importing e-cigarettes without customs clearance can result in up to ten years in prison or fines five times the product’s value, alongside confiscation. Using e-cigarettes in no-smoking zones is punishable by a 5,000 baht fine.
Government agencies continue to work together to monitor and enforce these laws, with particular concern over the impact on young people. Digital surveillance will remain a key part of enforcement efforts, helping prevent the spread of illegal vaping products through social media and online marketplaces. (NNT)
