Bangkok: Mr. Jirayu Huangsap, spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office, has raised serious concerns about the proliferation of e-cigarette shops across Thailand and the apparent inaction of police forces in addressing this issue. Jirayu has suggested that if the authorities are not blind, then they are turning a blind eye, alluding to possible corruption within police ranks.
According to Thai News Agency, the Prime Minister has ordered a crackdown on illegal e-cigarette shops to be completed within 30 days. Jirayu highlighted the widespread sale of e-cigarettes, pointing out that if each of Thailand's 800 districts had just ten such shops, the scale of the issue would be immense. He expressed concerns about collusion between civil servants, government agencies, and criminal groups in smuggling and distributing e-cigarettes, especially in Bangkok.
Jirayu shared his personal efforts to address the issue, noting that he had alerted several police stations in Bangkok and specifically warned the superintendent of the Khan Na Yao Metropolitan Police Station. Despite assurances from the superintendent that no e-cigarettes were sold in the area, Jirayu insisted on further investigations due to reports of e-cigarette sales on various roads in the capital.
Last week, a special task force, including the Office of the Consumer Protection Board and the Ministry of Public Health, conducted raids on three locations. Although the initial searches yielded no results, two shops openly selling e-cigarettes were later discovered in another area. The shops appeared to be mobile phone outlets but were instead selling e-cigarettes. Jirayu criticized the authorities for not seeing the obvious, suggesting the possibility of bribery.
Further inspections in the Khok Khram Police Station area uncovered a large shop selling smoking equipment disguised as art toys. The task force arrested individuals from three shops, seizing over 2,000 items valued at more than 2 million baht.
Jirayu reported these findings to the Prime Minister, who tasked Ms. Jiraporn Sinthuprai, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office, with overseeing the issue. The Prime Minister has also involved multiple ministries and the National Audit Office to tackle the problem along the borders to prevent illegal entry. Additionally, the Prime Minister has urged the Royal Thai Police to expedite their efforts within the 30-day timeframe.
Deputy government spokesman Mr. Anukul Prueksanusak warned about the spread of "zombie e-cigarettes," which are easily accessible near schools and pose severe health risks. He shared alarming cases where prolonged use led to devastating health consequences for young users.
Jirayu assured the public that the government is committed to taking decisive action without any cover-up. He alluded to the existence of secret accounts and monthly bribes linked to the e-cigarette trade, promising that the government would address these issues comprehensively.