Police Raid Chinese-Run Vaping Pod Manufacturing Operation in Chonburi, Discover Production Equipment and Chemicals
Police raided a luxury home in Chonburi's Bang Lamung District on May 11 and dismantled an illegal vaping pod manufacturing operation run by Chinese nationals, seizing production equipment and chemicals from the converted residence.
At 4:30 p.m. on May 11, 2025, the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECSD) along with Chonburi Provincial Police conducted a raid on a luxury home in Nong Prue Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province following intelligence that a Chinese criminal group was illegally manufacturing electronic cigarette vaping pods.
Upon initial inspection, the property was a two-story single-family house covering approximately 100 square wah, surrounded by a 2-meter-high concrete wall with electric fencing. Officers were shocked to discover the residence had been converted into a vaping pod manufacturing facility, with the second floor partitioned into laboratory rooms. Police found multiple production machines for chemical synthesis, vaping pod components, and numerous chemical containers throughout the house. Officers are coordinating with the Crime Scene Investigation Police Division 2 for evidence processing.
Authorities successfully apprehended three Chinese nationals and are continuing their investigation. Local residents expressed alarm upon seeing the large police presence, noting they had always thought the house was unoccupied due to it being dark and having no visible foot traffic. They initially feared a serious crime had occurred. Neighbors were deeply shocked to learn the property had been converted into a drug manufacturing facility.
Reporters noted that the chemical production equipment and substances found match similar equipment seized by Bang Lamung Police from another location in Nong Pla Lai in mid-February 2025. Investigators are currently determining whether the two operations are connected.
