Chonburi Police Bust Vape, Laughing Gas Ring Using Cryptocurrency
Chonburi police arrested a 40-year-old Myanmar national and a 33-year-old Chinese national for illegally selling vape pods and nitrous oxide (laughing gas) using cryptocurrency payments. Officers seized 89 vape pods, 49 laughing gas tanks, and 127 packs of foreign cigarettes. The suspects confessed to sourcing the products from a contact in Bangkok and distributing them to acquaintances via a drop-off system before being caught in an undercover sting.
Transnational police launched an operation arresting a Chinese-Myanmar gang secretly selling vape pods and laughing gas, seizing substantial evidence and discovering cryptocurrency payment channels. At 21:26 on November 9, 2026, Pol. Lt. Col. Chatri Sirisuk, Superintendent of Chonburi Provincial Police, ordered Pol. Capt. Rachaphiphat Khamthong, Head of the Chonburi Provincial Special Operations Unit, and Pol. Lt. Sornsak Pinthong, Inspector of Chonburi Provincial Police, to lead a team arresting a 40-year-old Myanmar man and a 33-year-old Chinese man along with evidence including 89 vape pods, 49 laughing gas tanks, and 127 packs of foreign cigarettes.
The case originated from a tip-off that vape pods were being secretly sold. Undercover officers contacted the Chinese suspect to arrange a purchase. When the Myanmar man arrived at the meeting point to deliver the goods, officers revealed themselves and arrested him. They then expanded the operation to arrest the Chinese suspect at his residence.
Under interrogation, the suspects confessed to buying the products from a friend in Bangkok and distributing them to acquaintances, with payments made through cryptocurrency. They would leave the goods at a designated pickup point for customers to collect, but were tracked and apprehended by officers.
Police have initially charged the suspects and transferred them with the evidence to Nong Prue Police Station investigators for further legal proceedings.
