Guangxi Beiliu Cracks Cross-Province Case Involving Counterfeit and Inferior Vaping Devices Worth Ov

Recently, the tobacco and public security departments of Beiliu City, Guangxi successfully cracked a cross-province case involving the illegal production and sale of electronic cigarettes. They dismantled a full chain of production, storage, and sales of counterfeit electronic cigarettes, with a case value exceeding 15 million yuan. Five suspects have been taken into custody in accordance with the law.

Suspects identifying the scene (Photo provided by Beiliu Public Security Bureau)

In January 2023, the Beiliu Tobacco Monopoly Bureau received a tip-off indicating that dozens of people were illegally producing and selling electronic cigarette products at an electronic factory in a certain township of Beiliu City. Upon receiving the information, the inspection department of the Beiliu Tobacco Monopoly Bureau immediately organized a verification of the lead. Preliminary investigations confirmed the authenticity of the report.

The Beiliu Tobacco Monopoly Bureau promptly established a joint task force with the Beiliu Public Security Bureau to collaboratively investigate the case. Initial investigations revealed that the illegal site was located in a multi-story private residential building in a township of Beiliu City, operating under the guise of a regular electronic component processing factory, and conducted illegal production activities in a fully enclosed environment.

Processing site (Photo provided by Beiliu Public Security Bureau)

After multiple investigations, the task force further organized and analyzed the collected evidence, clarifying the operational patterns of the site and identifying the person in charge of the electronic cigarette processing site, a certain Deng.

Investigations revealed that Deng purchased electronic cigarette components from a certain Zhong in Guangdong for processing and assembly. After assembling the products, they were sold nationwide by Zhong, forming an illegal industry chain for the production and sale of counterfeit electronic cigarettes. Subsequently, the Beiliu Tobacco Monopoly Bureau, in conjunction with the Public Security Bureau and the Market Supervision Administration, conducted inspections and crackdowns on multiple illegal electronic cigarette processing and storage sites in Yulin City.

The task force also organized a skilled team to carry out arrests in Guangdong, Hunan, and other places, dismantling a total of 4 production sites, 4 storage sites, and 2 sales groups, apprehending 20 suspects, seizing over 16,350 electronic cigarettes from major brands, dismantling over 1,120 counterfeit anti-counterfeiting labels, and confiscating 39,200 electronic cigarette rods, 64,150 electronic cigarette packaging boxes, and 165,253 anti-counterfeiting codes.

Currently, Zhong and four other suspects have been legally arrested, and the case is under further review.