CHONBURI, March 20 (TNA) – Thai customs officials seized 120,000 illicit e-cigarettes, valued at 21.8 million baht (about $640,000), from four shipping containers at Laem Chabang Port, authorities said.
The operation, conducted on March 17, followed intelligence reports and a January seizure alert from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) regarding suspected contraband. The containers, declared as carrying furniture, were detained after importers failed to claim the goods within the mandatory 30-day period.
“The e-cigarettes were concealed behind legitimate goods at the rear of the containers,” a customs official said highlighting the smuggling tactic used.
The seizure underscores an intensified crackdown on e-cigarette smuggling, driven by government policy to curb youth addiction to nicotine.
From October 2024 to March 17, 2025, Laem Chabang Port Customs reported 302 related arrests, with over 900,000 e-cigarettes seized, totaling 112 million baht in value.
Authorities emphasized that e-cigarettes contain high concentrations of nicotine, posing a significant risk to public health, particularly among young people. Laem Chabang Port, a major entry point for goods, is a key focus of the anti-smuggling efforts. -819 (TNA)
