Officers from the Anti-Drug Crime Office of the Phnom Penh Military Police seized more than 2,000 vapes and cartridges from a business in village 10, Boeung Kak II commune, Tuol Kork district, Phnom Penh, on January 9.
Lieutenant General Rath Sreang, Commander of the Phnom Penh Military Police, said on Sunday, January 11, that the two owners of the premises were arrested during the operation.
The seized items included 769 electronic cigarette devices and 1,930 vape cartridges.
The two suspects and the evidence were sent to the Phnom Penh Military Police headquarters for legal proceedings.
The raid was carried out in cooperation with Tuol Kork district military police, with legal coordination from deputy prosecutor Sin Raksa of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.
This action followed a government order which bans the import, distribution, advertising, use, possession, production and storage of all types of electronic smoking devices, vaping chemicals and shisha products. The order aims to prevent related problems, maintain social order and protect public health — especially the health of students and education staff.
Sreang noted that the Phnom Penh Military Police are strictly implementing the directive through continuous prevention and suppression operations.
In addition to legal action, authorities and relevant institutions are also cooperating to educate the public about the harmful effects of electronic cigarettes. Nevertheless, such offences continue to occur, and crackdowns are being carried out on an ongoing basis.
In November last year, Siem Reap provincial police conducted an inspection at a shop in Siem Reap city owned by a 24-year-old man named Siek Phearom. Officials found 199 electronic cigarettes and 353 boxes of vape cartridges.
The Anti-Drug Office of the Siem Reap Provincial Police confiscated the evidence for legal action and issued an educational warning to the shop owner to immediately cease all activities related to the trading and importation of shisha, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), and heated tobacco products (HTPs).
