Almaty Police Crack Down on Illegal E-cigarette Trade

Oct.14.2024
Almaty Police Crack Down on Illegal E-cigarette Trade
Almaty Police Crack Down on Illegal E-cigarette Trade, with 23 cases filed and over 24,300 devices seized.

According to a recent report by Almaty.TV, Aytan Eleyusizov, Deputy Director of the Local Police Service Management Department of the Almaty Police Department in Kazakhstan, announced during a press conference on combating illegal e-cigarette trading that as of June 20, 2024, Almaty has filed 23 criminal cases related to illegal e-cigarette trading, with 4 cases already concluded and judgments enforced. In these cases, over 24,300 e-cigarette devices were seized and destroyed.


The press conference also detailed the legal consequences of violating regulations. Selling and distributing e-cigarettes could result in fines of up to 738,000 hryvnias (around $1,522) or forced labor; manufacturing and importing could lead to fines of up to 7.4 million hryvnias (around $15,000), forced labor, or up to two years in prison; for more serious crimes, such as organized crime or making substantial profits, penalties include fines of up to 18.4 million hryvnias (around $38,000) or up to five years in prison, with the possibility of asset seizure.


The official emphasized that the police will continue to closely monitor the illegal trading of e-cigarettes in order to safeguard the health and safety of local residents.


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