Authorities raided the hideout of influencer “A-Che,” who operated a clothing store as a front while selling e-cigarettes online wholesale nationwide. They seized thousands of items valued at 1.5 million baht and are accelerating investigations to expand the case.
On 10 June, Pol. Maj. Gen. Kongkrit Lertsithikul, Commander of the Consumer Protection Police Division, Pol. Col. Kraiwit Saentaweesuk, Superintendent of Division 1, and Pol. Lt. Kritphas Puengnusanthi led a raid under a warrant from the Phra Khanong Criminal Court at a house in Soi Chalermphrakiat Rama 9 Soi 28, Intersection 3, Chalermphrakiat Rama 9 Road, Prawet District, Dokmai Subdistrict, Prawet District.
During the raid, officers arrested three suspects: Sirapat, 21; Khunanon, 20; and Kamolchanok, 20. They are charged with violating the committee's safety order prohibiting production, sale, or service of certain goods, as well as aiding concealment, sale, transport, purchase, pledge, or possession of goods they knew were imported without customs clearance. Authorities seized 4,133 disposable e-cigarettes worth over 1.5 million baht, along with packaging equipment and numerous parcels ready for dispatch.
The investigation began when Division 1 officers discovered a Line Official Account named “Retail-Wholesale Cigarette Prices, Genuine Vietnamese Website” with over 3,220 followers, openly advertising e-cigarette sales without regard for the law, generating monthly revenues of several hundred thousand baht. Further inquiry revealed it was a network linked to the well-known influencer “A-Che,” who rented a luxury house with tight security as a base for storing and packaging products for nationwide distribution. Authorities collected evidence and obtained a search warrant that led to the arrests and confiscation of the e-cigarettes.
Inside the house, the ground floor was stacked with t-shirts and fashion packaging materials to create the appearance of a typical online clothing business. However, the second floor was used as a warehouse holding large quantities of disposable e-cigarettes awaiting sale. All e-cigarettes and related equipment were seized as evidence.
During interrogation, the three suspects confessed they were merely employees hired by the famous influencer “A-Che” to pack e-cigarette orders placed daily by numerous customers. The products were shipped via private courier companies to customers throughout the country.
Authorities initially charged the suspects and handed them, along with all seized evidence, over to investigators at Division 1, Consumer Protection Police Division, for legal proceedings. They are preparing to expand the investigation to prosecute the well-known influencer.