Recently, the police in Khakas, Russia, cracked down on a large-scale illegal vape case, seizing over 45,000 disposable vapes and related nicotine products, with an initial valuation of up to 1 billion rubles (12.4 million US dollars). Most of the products involved in the case are well-known brands such as WAKA and Geek Bar. They were smuggled into the country through East Asia and forged labels, and sold to many places through Telegram.
Key points:
- The Republic of Khakassia in Russia has seized a large number of illegal vape products, with a total quantity of over 45,000.
- The products involved in the case are mainly unmarked brands such as WAKA. Inflave and Geek Bar, with a preliminary valuation of up to 1 billion rubles (12.4 million US dollars).
- The case involves cross-border smuggling, counterfeiting logos and distribution through channels such as Telegram. Seven people have been criminally detained.
- The police have conducted searches in multiple locations and continue to trace the relevant distribution networks in Moscow and other places.
Russian police seize over 45,000 illegal vapes
According to a recent report by Lenta, the law enforcement agencies of the Republic of Khakassia in Russia have recently cracked a large-scale illegal vape circulation case, seizing over 45,000 disposable vapes, more than 200 cases of nicotine-containing e-liquid products and over 600 packs of snus. The initial valuation of the illegal products involved in the case is approximately 40 million rubles (500,000 US dollars). Based on current regulations, the police have estimated that their market value may have reached as high as 1 billion rubles (12.4 million US dollars).
According to the Economic Security and Anti-corruption Division of the Athe bakan Ministry of Internal Affairs (ОЭБиПК). The products seized were mainly of the WAKA brand, and also included several other brands such as Inflave and Geek Bar. The police said, “The quantity is huge. A total of three trucks were used for the transfer.”
Vaping involves well-known brands such as WAKA, Inflave, Geek Bar, etc.
The police have arrested a total of 7 members of an organization suspected of illegally bulk-circulating unlabeled nicotine products. At present, a case has been filed under Article 171.1 of the Russian Criminal Code (Large-scale illegal circulation), and the maximum sentence for this crime is six years in prison.
The police stated that none of the involved products were labeled under Russian law and were illegally circulated through forged labels. Illegal goods are smuggled into Russia from East Asia, disguised as soft toys and household electronic products, and “legalized” locally through self-made fake labels. The main sales channel is the Telegram platform, and the goods are sent to Khakas and other federal subject areas through the express delivery system.
Police have conducted searches in multiple locations
The police pointed out that based on the price of 63 rubles (0.8 US dollars) per milliliter of unlabeled e-liquid (the minimum price stipulated by law), the amount involved in this case far exceeded the initial estimate. After the investigation and handling operation was launched, law enforcement officers conducted a comprehensive surprise inspection of all sales outlets in the region and seized illegal electronic cigarette products mainly under the WAKA brand.
Recently, in a warehouse of a small chain supermarket in Moscow. The police discovered more than 15,000 illegal vapes, one-third of which were of the WAKA brand and suspected to be related to the supply chain of Khakas. The relevant products are under testing and it is expected that the case will be filed under Article 194 of the Criminal Law (tax evasion and illegal import).
At present, the investigation is still ongoing in several federal districts.
