Thailand’s Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has ordered a comprehensive crackdown on e-cigarettes, warning that anyone found selling or distributing the products will face “serious consequences.”
The Thai government’s spokesperson, Jirayu Huangsap, announced that this directive comes in response to reports of widespread e-cigarette sales across the country.
“The Prime Minister has called for decisive action against e-cigarettes and urged that any officials involved should be held accountable,” Jirayu stated in a press release published on the Royal Thai Government’s website on Monday.
He stated that during a recent raid on illegal e-cigarette vendors in the Kannayao and Khok Kham areas of Bangkok, over 3,000 items valued at more than 2 million baht were seized.
“This operation focused on only one jurisdiction under the Metropolitan Police Bureau, yet numerous illegal vendors were found operating openly,” he said.
Jirayu highlighted findings from a confidential report regarding the e-cigarette trade and related corruption, noting that all apprehended shops were not hidden but operated in plain sight, making it unlikely that local police patrols could overlook them.
“This raises suspicions that some law enforcement officers may be complicit in allowing these shops to operate without interference,” he added.
He informed the Prime Minister and the Cabinet Secretary that enforcement against illegal e-cigarette sales across provinces has been lacking. He pointed out that some shops are located near schools, with reports suggesting that certain officials have accepted bribes to ignore these activities.
“In areas where arrests are made by other agencies, local police need to be investigated for potential negligence or involvement in bribery, similar to the scrutiny applied when illegal gambling dens are discovered in their zones,” he said.
“I have already reported this situation to the Royal Thai Police. If commanding officers fail to take action, the problem will continue.” Jirayu emphasized the severity of the situation, noting that “potent drugs are being mixed into e-cigarettes, contributing to youth fatalities.”
