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Dutch Authorities Seize Record Illegal Flavored Vapes

Mike Macdonald — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 17:41:50 +0000

Dutch product safety authority NVWA and customs officials confiscated 80,000 illegal vapes in a record seizure at a storage facility near Schiphol Airport, marking the country’s largest bust of its kind to date.

The Chinese-made vapes, flavored with now-banned ingredients like watermelon and kiwi, violate the Netherlands’ 2024 ban on flavored vaping products. The total estimated market value is in the hundreds of thousands of euros, and officials believe the products were intended for domestic distribution.

This marks the second major seizure from the same importer. In May, authorities intercepted 70,000 vape refills containing similar illegal flavorings. While no fines can be issued because the products were confiscated before reaching consumers, the importer must cover the cost of destroying the vapes, the NVWA confirmed.

The bust comes amid a broader crackdown led by junior health minister Vincent Karremans, who in May launched an anti-vaping campaign targeting youth vaping, sales of illegal products, and health risks.

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Indonesia: Two Arrested for Making Narcotic-Laced Vapes in Apartment

Mike Macdonald — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 21:45:35 +0000

Two people were arrested in North Sumatra, Indonesia, for allegedly operating an illegal drug lab that produced vape liquids infused with narcotics. Acting on a public tip, police raided an apartment and uncovered a makeshift factory that was producing up to 300 narcotic-laced vape cartridges per day, each selling for Rp 5 million ($305).

North Sumatra Police Narcotics Division Chief Sr. Comr. Jean Calvijn Simanjuntak said police seized 2,965 cartridges, along with raw materials, solvents, flavoring agents, and sweeteners used in production.

Both suspects were reportedly repeat drug offenders and are believed to have been running the illegal lab for at least six months.

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Thailand Tobacco Raids Uncover Major Smuggling Network

Mike Macdonald — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 21:22:06 +0000

Thailand’s Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) conducted four simultaneous raids in central Phuket, cracking down on an illegal cigarette smuggling network. Three people were arrested for violating the Customs Act, and cigarettes worth an estimated 4 million baht ($120,000) of lost tax revenue were seized. The network reportedly included several influential figures, including a politician who is a candidate for the local council, though the report did not disclose the politician’s name.

Investigations revealed the cigarettes were smuggled into Phuket by sea, primarily using tour boats, and then distributed locally by a network. Some of the contraband was also distributed through a private logistics company and was also being sold online.

Ronnarong Thipsiri, deputy director-general of DOPA said the raids were prompted by tips from residents about the illegal sale and transportation of untaxed cigarettes.

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Copenhagen Inspections Reveal Widespread Sale of Illicit Products

Mike Macdonald — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 20:38:03 +0000

Authorities in Denmark said they found illegal tobacco, nicotine, and vape items for sale in 21 out of 22 convenience stores in Copenhagen during a recent round of inspections (called “control visits”) with items reportedly hidden behind paneling, among parcels, behind shelves, and in used chocolate boxes. The products found during the raids are banned because they do not comply with Danish sales laws or because duty had not been paid on them, the Health Ministry said.

“It makes me angry that so many convenience stores are breaking the law and selling illegal nicotine products. It’s completely unacceptable,” Health Minister Sophie Løhde said. “They are gambling with the health of children and young people when they sell illegal vapes or e-cigarettes that taste like candy but are filled with high amounts of nicotine and can also contain narcotic substances. This has to be stopped.”

Eighteen of the violators have been fined by at least one authority, while two stores were banned from selling food, according to the ministry.

“The large-scale operation by authorities in Copenhagen kiosks has revealed massive problems and rule-breaking,” Tax Minister Rasmus Stoklund said. “This is completely unfair on the rest of us. It must be stopped, and we need to crack down hard on people who break the rules.”

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