According to Ho Chi Minh City police, smuggling, transporting, storing and illegally selling imported cigarettes and e-cigarettes remains a problem in the city. Violators use transport services, delivery networks, warehouses and social media to gather, distribute and sell the products.
Some people also use e-cigarettes to mix and disguise narcotic substances as vaping liquids and mouthpieces. This creates risks to public health, especially for teenagers and young people.
In October, officers from the Ho Chi Minh City economic police detected 29 violations involving 33 people. The cases concerned smuggled cigarettes and illegal e-cigarette trading. The total value of the temporarily seized goods was nearly VND1.5 billion.
The seized items included 46,321 packs of smuggled cigarettes, 2,460 e-cigarette products, 3,531 bottles of e-liquid and 359 e-cigarette mouthpieces.
Authorities imposed administrative fines in 10 cases involving 10 people. The total fines amounted to VND26.5 million. They also opened a criminal case against four suspects over the storage and transport of cigarettes as prohibited goods.
Ho Chi Minh City police said they are conducting a campaign against crimes and violations involving e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products from August 20 to November 20. Officers are checking businesses, storage facilities, collection points, goods transportation, and the advertising and sale of cigarettes online.
The police will focus on tracing suppliers and dismantling illegal cigarette distribution networks. Law enforcement agencies will also step up efforts to detect violations on social media and e-commerce platforms. Together with relevant departments, police will raise awareness of the harms of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products and warn about the risk of drugs being disguised as these products.
Sources: Dân Trí
