webfact 82,170 Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 Big Joke: E-cigarettes are bad for you and they are illegal Picture: Thai Rath Immigration chief Lt-Gen Surachate Hakparn has responded forcefully to the use of e-cigarettes in Thailand. Calls to go easy have been ignored and the top cop known as Big Joke has clamped down with a stark message for sellers and users instead. He told the media at a Ram Inthra market after a series of busts last night: "Tell the people that e-cigarettes are illegal. And smoking them is bad for your health". His short, sharp message was accompanied by giving information about where to find out more. He advised the public to go to his Facebook page, contact the tech police or dial 1155. Lt-Gen Surachate was speaking after arresting 23 people in raids on 30 shops across the capital last night. Nineteen Thais and two each from Myanmar and Laos were nabbed. A million baht's worth of vaping fluid and equipment was seized. Those arrested face up to eight charges including selling the merchandise and illegal working. The raids came after Maris Karanyawat from the End Cigarette Smoking Thailand Group asked for clarification about the police approach following allegations that a French woman in Phuket was caught up in bribery allegations. Thaivisa notes that the message seems to be clear - Thailand is not going easy on e-cigarettes. And the most high profile cop in the land is putting his weight behind the enforcement of the law. Source: Thai Rath -- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2019-03-04 Link to post Share on other sites
SammyT 5,480 Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 So are normal smokes, so why are they still legal? Link to post Share on other sites
BestB 12,707 Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 Would be good if he also provided some medical study to back his assertion it was bad for you. But got to love the irony , after the fiasco he raids a few dozen shops to prove the point . what is more ironic is that he is the boss of immigration and last time I checked immigration had nothing to do with raiding shops for illegal products one might start to think BJ is the boss of all police as he is involved in all sectors of it from immigration to road blocks Link to post Share on other sites
keith101 12,817 Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 1 minute ago, SammyT said: So are normal smokes, so why are they still legal? Tobacco is much worse than E-cigarettes and should be banned as well but as with most countries around the world it brings in a heap of money in taxes and lives seem to matter less here than elsewhere . Link to post Share on other sites
RotBenz8888 18,526 Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 4 minutes ago, BestB said: one might start to think BJ is the boss of all police as he is involved in all sectors of it from immigration to road blocks And minister of health. Link to post Share on other sites
AhFarangJa 12,047 Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 As I have iterated in other threads, they are only illegal until the Thai Tobacco Monopoly cronies have worked out all the tax and supply angles, then they will be the same as normal ciggies. Link to post Share on other sites
a977 1,036 Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 18 minutes ago, BestB said: Would be good if he also provided some medical study to back his assertion it was bad for you. But got to love the irony , after the fiasco he raids a few dozen shops to prove the point . what is more ironic is that he is the boss of immigration and last time I checked immigration had nothing to do with raiding shops for illegal products one might start to think BJ is the boss of all police as he is involved in all sectors of it from immigration to road blocks The vaping fluid is imported into the country so it comes under immigration Link to post Share on other sites
BobbyL 6,275 Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 Thanks for the info BJ, but I am pretty sure there has been no law passed to say having an e - cig is illegal. It is a complete grey area. Also, I didn't realise he was involved in medical research now too. Link to post Share on other sites
BestB 12,707 Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 8 minutes ago, a977 said: The vaping fluid is imported into the country so it comes under immigration Unless products became people it still remains under customs and not immigration Link to post Share on other sites
NCC1701A 53,849 Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 10 minutes ago, BobbyL said: Thanks for the info BJ, but I am pretty sure there has been no law passed to say having an e - cig is illegal. It is a complete grey area. Also, I didn't realise he was involved in medical research now too. go test your theory. let us know what happens. Link to post Share on other sites
BobbyL 6,275 Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 1 minute ago, NCC1701A said: go test your theory. let us know what happens. People have been posting on here and other places about being stopped by the police, but legally they can't fine you. Someone posted recently. However, the foreign woman in Phuket last week would seem to suggest otherwise. Link to post Share on other sites
NCC1701A 53,849 Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 1 minute ago, BobbyL said: People have been posting on here and other places about being stopped by the police, but legally they can't fine you. Someone posted recently. However, the foreign woman in Phuket last week would seem to suggest otherwise. it is illegal. Link to post Share on other sites
BobbyL 6,275 Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 1 minute ago, NCC1701A said: it is illegal. Well, unless that has changed it contradicts what others have said very recently. I have read on here and heard from someone else they were stopped by the police with one, the police wanted a bribe or they threaten to take you to the station. However, there isn't then actually anything they can do at the station as there is no law to say having an e - cig is a crime. Link to post Share on other sites
rkidlad 32,011 Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 26 minutes ago, a977 said: The vaping fluid is imported into the country so it comes under immigration But what if the vaping liquid has a legitimate visa? Link to post Share on other sites
NCC1701A 53,849 Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 2 minutes ago, BobbyL said: Well, unless that has changed it contradicts what others have said very recently. I have read on here and heard from someone else they were stopped by the police with one, the police wanted a bribe or they threaten to take you to the station. However, there isn't then actually anything they can do at the station as there is no law to say having an e - cig is a crime. will you visit your friends in prison after you tell them it not not illegal? Link to post Share on other sites
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