BANGKOK, Thailand – Police have raided a major vape warehouse in the Bangkae area of Bangkok, seizing goods valued at 30 million baht. Authorities are now working to trace the owner of the operation.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Chotiwat Leungwilai, Commander of the Crime Suppression Division of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, along with investigators from Phetkasem Police Station, raided the warehouse after receiving a tip-off from an anonymous informant. The warehouse, a four-story commercial building on Kalpaphruek Road in Bangkae District, was found to be storing illegal goods avoiding customs duties.
The search, conducted on the morning of February 28, uncovered large quantities of vape products. Authorities seized 343,600 vape juice bottles and 10,000 ready-to-use e-cigarettes. In total, the goods amounted to 568 cartons (227,200 pieces) in the lower floor, valued at 22.7 million baht, and 116,400 pieces on the upper floor, worth 11.64 million baht. The total seizure is valued at around 30 million baht.
A male suspect was arrested at the scene, confessing to his involvement in transporting the illegal products. He claimed he was just a laborer and did not know the full details of the goods but admitted to being aware of their nature.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Chotiwat stated that the government has made a concerted effort to tackle the illegal vape trade, especially e-cigarette liquids, as part of a national crackdown. He explained that this raid was part of an ongoing investigation into smaller vendors and warned about the growing trend of online sales.
The police are continuing to investigate the source of the goods and whether they passed through customs. Authorities are also examining whether minors are involved in the distribution and use of these illegal products. The investigation will expand further to track down the warehouse’s true owner and the suppliers behind this illegal operation. (TNA)
