Laws & Regulation
Vape Users Now Face Smuggling Charges Amid Government Crackdown in Thailand
April 25 : The Thai government announced strict new regulations regarding e-cigarettes by declaring that users become subject to prosecution when receiving smuggled goods according to Deputy Government Spokesman Anukul Prueksa-anurak. The new legislation takes enforcement action past distributors and smugglers to reach the end-users as well.
According to Thai customs legislation offenders can receive both imprisonment up to five years and fines whose value equals four times the smuggled goods' face amount plus all regular duties. The ban on e-cigarettes in Thailand has failed to stop retailers from selling them openly in the streets especially near educational facilities leading to increasing youth vaping rates.
The growing number of teenage patients requiring hospitalization because of lung injuries has escalated public apprehension levels. “The adolescent vape user population aged 15-29 increased by 6.4% between 2019 and 2024”, Anukul said.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra deployed national enforcement actions with a focus on online marketplace investigation. Official government statistics demonstrate that the campaign cut e-cigarette sales and user numbers by 80% during its initial two-month period.
According to Thai customs legislation offenders can receive both imprisonment up to five years and fines whose value equals four times the smuggled goods' face amount plus all regular duties. The ban on e-cigarettes in Thailand has failed to stop retailers from selling them openly in the streets especially near educational facilities leading to increasing youth vaping rates.
The growing number of teenage patients requiring hospitalization because of lung injuries has escalated public apprehension levels. “The adolescent vape user population aged 15-29 increased by 6.4% between 2019 and 2024”, Anukul said.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra deployed national enforcement actions with a focus on online marketplace investigation. Official government statistics demonstrate that the campaign cut e-cigarette sales and user numbers by 80% during its initial two-month period.
