Two women, one of whom is a teenager, have been arrested in Phuket, accused of selling illegal vaping devices and contraband tobacco. According to a Phuket Express report, officers seized 290 packs of smuggled cigarettes, along with 15 vaping devices and over 300 bottles of vaping liquid.
There is a concerted crackdown on vaping, e-cigarettes, and vaping equipment and liquids at the moment around Thailand. Despite the crackdown, vaping remains popular and largely unpoliced.
Phuket police also seized 66,920 baht in cash and confiscated a number of other items from the women. The suspects, who have been named as 47 year old Ms Ya and 17 year old Ms Porn, were arrested at their home in the Mueang district.
It’s understood both women were previously arrested last month for the same crime. They are being charged with the illegal sale of e-cigarettes and vaping liquid, along with smuggling untaxed, restricted, or illegal goods.
In 2014, Thailand banned the use of electronic cigarettes (“vaping devices”), shisha smoking, and electronic shishas, for “health reasons and to discourage young people from starting to smoke”. Nevertheless, such items are often seen openly on sale at Thai street stalls and some shops and markets.
SOURCE: The Phuket Express
