Three arrested over online vapes business in villa raid in Thailand

Three suspects were arrested as police raided a luxury villa being used to run a lucrative vape business in Thailand.

The trio, identified as Siraphat, Khunanon, and Kamolchanok, reportedly converted the upscale property into a distribution hub in Bangkok's Prawet district.

Consumer Protection Police stormed the home following investigations that linked it to the banned sales of e-cigrattes online.

During the operation, officers found that the ground floor was stocked with t-shirts and office supplies in an apparent attempt to appear legitimate.

But upon searching the second floor, they discovered hundreds of parcels of e-cigarettes ready to be shipped to customers across the country.

Officers arrested the suspects and seized 1.5 million baht of disposable vapes.

They were charged with breaching a government ban on the sale of the products and helping distribute goods they should have known were smuggled into the country without clearing customs.

Police said key evidence was obtained from a Line group called ‘Cigarette Retail-Wholesale Prices, Authentic Vietnam Web', which had more than 3,220 followers.

The business was operated by a popular influencer who used social media platforms to promote e-cigarettes, generating hundreds of thousands of baht in revenue.

Officials said the suspects were 'experienced in avoiding detection' and had chosen the luxury villa to serve as a storage and distribution centre.

Vaping has been banned in Thailand since 2014, despite the products being easily purchased in the country.

Those caught vaping or even just possessing a vape could result in a fine of up to 30,000 THB (700 GBP), imprisonment of up to five years, or both.