Illegal Vaping Factory Seized in Taiwan, China, With Case Value of NT$2.24 Million

According to a Focus Taiwan report on October 5, Taiwan Province implemented new tobacco control regulations in March this year, banning the manufacture and sale of e-cigarettes. The New Taipei City government said on Thursday that an illegal e-cigarette manufacturing factory was discovered in New Taipei City on Wednesday, marking the first illegal e-cigarette factory uncovered in Taiwan since amendments to the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act took effect.

Acting on a tip-off, an Immigration Agency task force in New Taipei City raided a residential unit in Sanchong District on Wednesday and found four undocumented migrant workers and one foreign national who had overstayed.

Chen Hsin-jung, head of the Health Management Section of the New Taipei City Department of Health, told CNA reporters that the five individuals were found manufacturing and packaging e-cigarettes at the location.

The task force immediately notified the New Taipei City Department of Health and the police department. When authorities visited the site later on Wednesday, the factory operators were no longer present and their identities remain unknown. However, authorities found three e-cigarette packaging and filling machines, 84 boxes of finished e-cigarette products, four boxes of semi-finished products, and 35 bottles of e-liquid, with a total estimated value of nearly NT$10 million. The items were sealed and seized.

The Department of Health said it is continuing the operation to trace the manufacturer as well as downstream sellers and distributors.

Under the amended Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act, manufacturing or importing imitation tobacco products or their components is punishable by a fine of NT$10 million to NT$50 million, while selling or displaying such products is punishable by a fine of NT$200,000 to NT$1 million.

In addition to penalties under the amended Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act, the migrant workers at the factory will be transferred to the Immigration Agency for further investigation.