CIB nets B10m worth of vaping goods

CIB nets B10m worth of vaping goods

smoking them out: The seized e-cigarette items, worth about 10 million baht, on display at the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) yesterday.
smoking them out: The seized e-cigarette items, worth about 10 million baht, on display at the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) yesterday.

Police on Friday arrested four people and confiscated 10 million baht worth of e-cigarette products found in a Bangkok warehouse, according to the CIB.

The raid was a result of an investigation into the online sale of banned products. On Friday, law enforcement agents from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) raided a warehouse in Kheha Rom Klao Soi 27 in the Rat Phattana area of Saphan Sung district.

The officers seized 50,000 bottles of e-cigarette liquid, 10,000 refill pods, 1,500 e-cigarettes and 80 boxes of related products worth at least 10 million baht, CIB commissioner Pol Lt Gen Torsak Sukwimol said during a briefing yesterday.

One woman and three men were arrested. They were identified as Nara Yiewsrikhol, 46; Pranom Wongprasopchok, 51; Issara Wongprasopchok, 34; and Wattana Wongprasopchok, 21.

The four were charged with colluding in the sale of banned products in violation of the Consumer Protection Act.

Pol Lt Gen Torsak said the CIB had received complaints that various e-cigarette products were being sold via Facebook. Page administrators claimed the products were made from dried fruits and posed no harm to users.

CIB investigators found the page had been active for three years. Female presenters or "pretties" were hired to promote the products, which drew many purchase orders, said Pol Lt Gen Torsak.

The investigators sought a warrant from the Criminal Court to search the warehouse. Authorities said they would also call the product presenters in for questioning.

The government banned the sale of e-cigarettes in 2014, citing health concerns.

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