Uttaradit —
On July 12th, 2024, the Thai Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) and relevant agencies held a press conference to announce the seizure of 66,000 smuggled e-cigarettes worth over 15 million baht from a warehouse in Mueang, Uttaradit.
The CPPD revealed that their officers had been investigating and monitoring illegal online e-cigarette sellers who targeted juveniles by disguising the products as cartoon characters. These toy-like e-cigarettes were designed to deceive guardians and appeal to young buyers.
Investigative officers contacted the sellers and traced their financial transactions, discovering that the e-cigarette operation generated over 10 million baht monthly. The sellers reportedly communicated with clients via online platforms.
In an attempt to evade arrest, the suspects had relocated their warehouses multiple times over the past 2-3 months. However, the CPPD successfully tracked down the current location in Mueang, Uttaradit. The warehouse was found to contain 66,000 units of e-cigarettes and other related equipment, valued at over 15 million baht.
The prime suspect, identified only as Mr. Jakkawan, was apprehended based on a criminal court arrest and search warrants for illegally selling prohibited products, including e-cigarettes and related equipment.