BANGKOK – Cyber Police recently cracked down on a major illegal vaping operation right in the bustling heart of Bangkok. Cyber Police successfully raided two separate locations situated in the busy Bang Khae district on Wednesday.
During the coordinated operation, they arrested a local couple accused of being top-tier e-cigarette distributors for the region.
Officers confiscated an astonishing 50,000 vaping products from the hidden stash during their thorough search. This massive haul included disposable e-cigarettes, replacement pods, and various flavored liquids worth well over 10 million baht. Additionally, the daytime raid uncovered 4.8 million baht in cash, highlighting the sheer financial scale of this underground business.
Key Takeaways
- Massive Seizure: Police confiscated 50,000 illegal vaping devices and 4.8 million baht in cash from two homes.
- Major Distributors Arrested: A 40-year-old woman and her 28-year-old boyfriend were caught running the large-scale supply hub.
- Community Safety: The illegal storage operation was located dangerously close to large schools and local neighborhoods.
This successful bust happened on July 10, following a lengthy and highly detailed investigation by the Cyber Police. Detectives initially arrested smaller street vendors and carefully tracked the illicit supply chain backward over several weeks. Eventually, this clever strategy led them straight to 40-year-old Sumaporn Laikra and her 28-year-old boyfriend, Peerapol Boonket.
Armed with official search warrants from the Central Tax Court, officers quickly moved in to raid two houses in Soi Phetkasem 63. The first property served as a busy warehouse where the suspects secretly stored, packed, and shipped their daily orders. Meanwhile, the second house acted as the couple’s private residence, which is exactly where police discovered the illegal cash.
Protecting Students from e-Cigarettes and Vaping
According to a detailed report by Thairath News, the specific location of this illegal business deeply concerned local authorities. The storage facilities were situated dangerously close to a large educational institution and a dense residential community. Consequently, this prime location made it incredibly easy for young students to access the harmful vaping products.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Nirandorn Luemsri currently leads the national center fighting against the spread of illegal e-cigarettes. He explained that taking down these inner-city distribution hubs remains a massive priority for the entire police force. Ultimately, stopping these major suppliers helps protect Thai youth from falling into a dangerous and lifelong nicotine addiction.
During police questioning, the arrested couple fully confessed to their active involvement in the booming illegal trade. They admitted that some of their vaping stock was smuggled directly across the border from neighboring countries. Interestingly, the rest of the illegal products were manufactured locally by a previously busted underground factory here in Thailand.
The couple explained to investigators that the 4.8 million baht was actively used as daily cash flow for the business. Now, the pair faces incredibly serious legal consequences for running their highly lucrative operation. They are officially charged with concealing and distributing smuggled goods that completely bypassed proper government customs clearance.
Furthermore, they blatantly violated the strict Thai Consumer Protection Act during their daily business operations. This specific national law completely bans the production, sale, and distribution of all e-cigarettes and vaping liquids nationwide. Moving forward, police firmly plan to use the newly gathered evidence to hunt down other major players in the network.
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