CHIANG RAI — Police in Chiang Rai arrested a 27-year-old man on July 4, 2026, for selling illegal e-cigarettes to students. The arrest took place near local schools in the Mae Chan district. Senior police officials, including Police Major General Manop Senakul and Police Colonel Ratthaphon Noichangkit, ordered the operation to protect local youth.
Acting on these orders, Police Colonel Kiattisak Jitrprasarn and Police Lieutenant Colonel Supakornchai Dechayimsawat led the team. Police Major Phadung Thaireokham and his undercover officers set up a sting operation at a roadside pavilion on Phahonyothin Road. This location is very close to several primary and secondary schools in the Pa Sang sub-district.
Key Takeaways
- Targeted Arrest: Police caught a 27-year-old suspect selling illegal vapes directly to local students near school zones.
- Large Seizure: Officers found a major stockpile of smuggled e-cigarettes and vape kits hidden in a nearby farm hut.
- Strict Charges: The suspect faces severe legal penalties for handling, hiding, and selling untaxed, smuggled foreign goods.
The sting operation began after residents complained about a man selling vapes to teenagers. Police officers hid near the roadside pavilion and waited for the suspect to appear. Soon after, the suspect arrived on a motorcycle to meet a group of young buyers.
Officers quickly blocked the suspect’s motorcycle with their vehicle and arrested him on the spot. The young buyers managed to escape on their own motorcycles during the confusion. A quick search under the suspect’s motorcycle seat revealed a hidden stash of e-cigarettes and vaping tools.
Hidden Stash Uncovered in Farm Hut
The suspect was identified as Mr. Thitiwat (last name withheld), a resident of the Pa Sang sub-district. During questioning, he admitted to owning the illegal items and agreed to show police his main storage site. He led the officers to an unnumbered farm hut located in Village 12 of Pa Sang.
Inside the small hut, police discovered a large supply of smuggled electronic cigarettes. The seized items included popular brands like Salthub MBAR, Marbo Cig, Esko Bar, and EVOPK COOL BAR. Many of these devices were high-capacity models offering up to 23,000 puffs per unit.
Police officially seized all the items and took the suspect to the Mae Chan Police Station for processing. The suspect now faces strict legal charges under Thai customs and trade laws. Specifically, he is accused of hiding, selling, and helping to distribute untaxed goods brought into the country illegally.
Local authorities have vowed to continue their crackdown on illegal vape sales near educational institutions. They urged parents and teachers to report any suspicious activity to protect children from these health hazards.
Serious Legal Charges for Smuggled Goods
Thailand maintains some of the strictest vaping laws in the world, enforcing a total ban on the import, sale, and possession of all e-cigarettes and vaping accessories. Originally introduced in 2014 for public health reasons, the legislation applies equally to local citizens and foreign tourists with zero exceptions made for personal use.
Because the devices cannot be legally imported or taxed, simply owning a vape is considered a violation of the Customs Act. Enforcement remains highly rigorous, featuring a zero-tolerance policy that has led to a major government-ordered crackdown across public spaces, schools, and border checkpoints.
Individuals caught using or carrying a vape face severe penalties, including immediate confiscation of the device, heavy on-the-spot fines reaching up to 20,000 to 30,000 Thai Baht, and, technically, the legal framework allows for prison sentences of up to five to ten years for importers.
Travelers are strongly advised to leave all electronic smoking devices behind, as packing them in checked or carry-on luggage risks serious legal trouble at airport customs.
