Evening Raid in Banglamung: Woman Arrested Over 62 Disposable Vapes and Drug Test Flag
What began as a routine operation in Banglamung, Chon Buri, on the evening of August 21 quickly escalated into a case that touches on smuggling, underage sales and drug use. At 6:30 p.m., a raid on a residence on Soi Thung Klom-Tal Man 29, led by Deputy Superintendent Police Lieutenant Colonel Thana Wisetchai alongside Investigation Chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Suphat Sutsong, ended with the arrest of 50-year-old Hathaithip “Thai” Rueangkham.
Police say they recovered 62 disposable e-cigarettes of the COKE TIN brand from the property. The devices were seized as evidence and have become the focal point of an investigation that local news outlets, including The Pattaya News, are following closely.
A Strange Story — and a Stranger-Smelling Defense
During questioning, Hathaithip insisted she wasn’t part of an organised trafficking network. According to her account, the vapes were given to her by a scavenger who reportedly owed her 3,000 baht (about US$92). She claimed the scavenger found the items discarded by Chinese nationals under a motorway bridge and passed them along. Hathaithip admitted she sold the disposable vapes to teenagers for 50 baht (around US$1.50) each, acknowledging that she knew the activity was illegal but saying she needed the extra cash.
Her explanation, however, failed to convince investigators. Officers noted the vapes were in pristine condition and were present in a quantity that suggested commercial import rather than curbside trash redistribution. That, coupled with the brand-uniform appearance of the items, led police to suspect direct illegal importation.
Drug Test and Charges
Compounding the case against her, a drug test returned a positive result for illegal substances. Authorities have therefore added a charge related to the illegal consumption of a Category 1 narcotic to the list of accusations.
Hathaithip now faces charges under Section 246 of the Customs Act B.E. 2560 (2017) for concealing, selling, or possessing smuggled goods, alongside the narcotics-related charge. She was detained following the raid and is currently in custody while investigators continue to build the case.
Not an Isolated Incident — A Second E-Vape Bust in Pathum Thani
The Banglamung raid comes on the heels of another high-profile e-cigarette case. On August 16, police arrested 22-year-old Pornpawit Rotkarnjanarak in a condominium in Pathum Thani. That operation uncovered e-cigarette pods allegedly laced with ketamine, and Pornpawit was also facing an outstanding warrant for defamation.
The Pathum Thani arrest was authorised at a high level — Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom gave the go-ahead, with support from Police Major Generals Noppasil Poonasawat and Samart Promchart. The field operation was led by Police Colonels Cherdsak Rodkhem and Pansa Amornpitak, while Police Lieutenant Colonels Arthit Sreesuayong and Supakit Kongchuen from Yannawa police station directed the investigation.
Why These Raids Matter
Thailand has been tightening enforcement around illegal e-cigarettes for some time. These disposable vape products are not only frequently smuggled into the kingdom but are also being marketed or sold to younger users, raising health and legal concerns. When investigators encounter large quantities of identical, unused devices, it raises red flags for organised importation rather than casual, small-scale possession.
The addition of alleged drug contamination — as seen in the Pathum Thani case with ketamine — elevates the public-safety stakes. Law enforcement agencies are increasingly treating vape-related operations not just as customs or sales violations but as part of broader narcotics and youth-protection efforts.
What Comes Next
Hathaithip remains in custody as prosecutors and customs officials review the evidence. If the case moves forward, it could lead to significant penalties under the Customs Act and drug laws. Meanwhile, the Pathum Thani suspect is also navigating pending charges related to distribution of drug-laced pods and the outstanding defamation warrant.
These two incidents serve as a reminder that illegal vaping products and drug-laced e-liquids are a growing concern in Thailand — attracting both organized networks and opportunistic sellers. For parents, community leaders and consumers, the takeaway is clear: be wary of cheaply priced disposable vapes, especially those of unknown origin, and report suspicious sales to local authorities.
Expect more enforcement actions as Thai police continue to crack down on smuggled e-cigarettes and the potential public-health hazards that sometimes accompany them.
This story stinks of a scapegoat. A 50-year-old selling cheap vapes to teens to survive doesn’t fit the picture of an international smuggler, but the police jumped to conclusions.
Maybe she was a small part of a bigger chain and the police are finally tracing the links, not just picking on the poor.
Or maybe the police want headlines and are overcharging to look tough on crime; this is how minor cases get blown up.
I agree with grower134 that headlines matter, but we shouldn’t ignore organized importation either; the pristine uniformity of the vapes is suspicious.
She said scavengers gave them to her — could someone really find 62 flawless vapes under a bridge? That explanation seems unlikely.
From a practical standpoint, children are at risk and parents should be alarmed, but we also need compassion for people in poverty who resort to small illegal sales.
Compassion is fine, but laws exist for a reason. If smuggling networks use vulnerable sellers as fronts, letting this slide harms society.
I just want a fair investigation, not sympathy for criminals or automatic convictions for the poor.
The ketamine-laced pods in Pathum Thani prove this market is dangerous, but are raids like this effective or just performative policing?
Raids look good on TV and often disrupt supply, but they rarely stop demand or the networks that profit from smuggling.
Exactly, Larry — unless enforcement is paired with education and economic options, the problem will shift elsewhere.
From a public health perspective, illegal disposables pose two threats: youth nicotine addiction and unknown contaminants. That justifies strong action.
Public health is important, but aggressive criminal charges for low-level sellers can deepen social inequality. We need balanced policy.
Balanced policy means regulation, education, and rehabilitation, not only prison. Kids are getting hooked and that should be our priority.
I fully support rehabilitation programs, but we must also cut off supply channels to reduce harm quickly.
She knew it was illegal and still sold to teens for money. That’s on her, simple as that.
Why focus on sellers when large smugglers and online networks are the real problem? Arresting poor vendors is just window dressing.
Because small sellers are the most visible and easiest to catch. It’s politically easier to arrest them than chase transnational rings.
Exactly, and that shows where enforcement priorities lie — optics over dismantling the networks.
Law enforcement can’t ignore large quantities that point to commercial import. Uniform brand packaging is a classic red flag for smuggling.
As parents, we want vapes off the streets, but please ensure the accused get fair treatment and proper legal process.
Fair treatment is standard procedure; charges are based on evidence and tests, not just rumors.
The coordination with higher-level police in the Pathum Thani case shows top brass are prioritising this issue, which may mean more sweeping actions soon.
I fear that will lead to mass arrests of low-income people while the real masterminds stay hidden offshore.
That’s a valid concern, but international cooperation and financial investigations can follow arrests to trace larger networks.
Why are cheap vapes so easy to smuggle compared to regulated tobacco products? It seems like a policy loophole.
Because disposables are small, cheap, and profitable. They bypass regulations and are easily shipped in bulk from abroad.
Policymakers should close that loophole and make import controls stricter, not just punish small-time sellers.
Drug test positive plus smuggling charges complicates her defense. Even if she was a small seller, the narcotics finding hurts her case badly.
But drug tests can have false positives and chain-of-custody issues; the defense should examine lab procedures closely.
True, Pen, but courts often give weight to initial tests; vigorous legal representation is critical here.
The article makes me worry about kids. Cheap vapes sold for 50 baht can addict a generation if nothing changes.
There’s also a geopolitical angle: blaming ‘Chinese nationals’ under a bridge sounds xenophobic unless there’s evidence of who supplied the goods.
Point taken, but smuggling often involves cross-border supply chains. Naming a nationality without proof is irresponsible.
Exactly, Narong — we need careful reporting to avoid fueling prejudice while still exposing criminal routes.
I work with youth and see these vapes everywhere. Whether smuggled or sold by mom-and-pop stalls, the harm is real and urgent.
Thanks for the discussion; we reported the facts as we received them and will follow court developments closely.
Can you ask authorities for more details about the alleged source and the drug test method? Transparency would help public trust.
We’ll request records and lab info as the case proceeds and publish updates if authorities release them.
If vapes are contaminated with ketamine or other drugs, this becomes not just a customs issue but a severe public health emergency.
Selling to teenagers should carry harsher penalties in my opinion, because addiction at that age ruins lives faster.
But does criminalizing sellers reduce teen use? Evidence from other countries suggests education and access controls work better.
If the vapes were pristine and identical, customs charges make sense. I doubt a scavenger would find 62 untouched devices.
Why hasn’t the government offered buyback or disposal programs for illegal vapes? That might remove products without criminalizing individuals.
Schools need funding for anti-vaping programs. Arrests don’t teach kids why these things are dangerous or how to resist peer pressure.
We must also consider economic drivers; when elderly people sell small items to survive, criminal penalties should be proportionate.
I suspect corruption in supply chains; someone with connections lets these shipments in, then small sellers get blamed.
Follow the money and the seizures will point to higher-ups. But that requires willpower and time from investigators.
The police might be sincere, but we must watch for selective enforcement that targets vulnerable communities.
If the court finds her guilty of smuggling and narcotics use, expect sentencing to be strict; Thailand has been ramping up penalties.