Israel Busts Illegal E-Cigarette Operations: Massive Seizure Made

Aug.21.2023
Israel Busts Illegal E-Cigarette Operations: Massive Seizure Made
Israel's law enforcement officers have reportedly seized a large quantity of illegal e-cigarettes in Modi'in, according to aninews.

On August 18, according to the news website Aninews, law enforcement officials in Israel have reportedly cracked down on the first case of illegal e-cigarette production in the country. Employees from the Tax Authority of the Ministry of Finance conducted a surprise inspection of a tobacco products store in Modi'in city and confiscated a large quantity of vape and e-cigarette liquids. It is alleged that these products have not obtained the Ministry of Health license in Israel.


A total of 12 liters of seized e-cigarette liquid, with tax alone amounting to approximately 110,000 Schekels ($30,000).


These products are suspected to be illegal, firstly because they are sold at very low prices, and secondly because their concentration of active substances (nicotine) exceeds the standards allowed by the Ministry of Health. In this surprise inspection, 79 kilograms of untraceable hookah tobacco were also seized.


The confiscated goods were seized, and the store owner was also questioned.


Due to the significantly lower tax rates on cigarettes compared to other tobacco products, the smuggling of cigarettes has become prevalent. The imposition of taxes on vapes is an orchestrated effort between Israel's Tax Authority and Ministry of Health, aimed at curbing e-cigarette consumption.


Currently, the purchasing tax rate for vape products is 145% of the regular wholesale price.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

Reemtsma says German illegal e-cigarette seizures reached 70% of 2025 total, pouches 179%
Reemtsma says German illegal e-cigarette seizures reached 70% of 2025 total, pouches 179%
Reemtsma said its first-half 2026 black-market tracker for tobacco and nicotine products showed a continued rise in officially reported seizures in Germany, with illegal e-cigarette seizures reaching 70% of the full-year 2025 level and snus and nicotine pouch seizures reaching 179% of last year’s total.
Jul.08
FTC Scrutinizes Fifty Bar’s “Made in America” Claims as Vape Marketing Faces New Compliance Risk
FTC Scrutinizes Fifty Bar’s “Made in America” Claims as Vape Marketing Faces New Compliance Risk
The Federal Trade Commission sent a warning letter to Lucky Bar Holdings LLC over “Made in the USA” claims tied to Fifty Bar vape products, saying staff had reason to believe the products may be imported in whole or in significant part despite unqualified U.S.-origin marketing claims.
Jul.20
Italy and Greece Oppose Ireland’s Nicotine Product Bill, Raising EU Regulatory Concerns
Italy and Greece Oppose Ireland’s Nicotine Product Bill, Raising EU Regulatory Concerns
Italy and Greece have opposed Ireland’s proposed nicotine product regulations, arguing that the measures could affect EU market coordination and the free movement of products. Ireland plans to introduce stricter rules covering nicotine products including vapes and nicotine pouches, with measures involving packaging, marketing and sales controls. The dispute highlights differences among EU member states between stronger public health protections and maintaining regulatory consistency within the bloc’s single market.
Jul.29
EU Tobacco Rules Face Pushback as Analysis Says 90% of Consultation Responses Raised Objections
EU Tobacco Rules Face Pushback as Analysis Says 90% of Consultation Responses Raised Objections
An analysis by We Are Innovation says more than 90% of over 82,000 responses to the European Commission’s public consultation on the Tobacco Products Directive revision raised at least one substantial objection to the proposed regulatory direction.
Jul.13
How AI Is Rewriting the Talent Playbook for the Nicotine Industry: JTI’s Case
How AI Is Rewriting the Talent Playbook for the Nicotine Industry: JTI’s Case
AI is moving from a back-office tool to a core organizational capability in the nicotine industry. Based on JTI’s responses, this 2Firsts feature examines how AI is reshaping talent strategy, internal mobility, decision-making and human accountability as global tobacco companies compete in the shift toward new nicotine categories.
Jun.17
UK Vape Brands Face White-Packaging and Flavour-Name Curbs in Youth-Appeal Crackdown
UK Vape Brands Face White-Packaging and Flavour-Name Curbs in Youth-Appeal Crackdown
The UK government and devolved administrations have launched a 12-week consultation on proposals to make vapes less appealing to children, including plain white packaging, limits on device colours, restrictions on flavour names and changes to how products are displayed in shops.
Jul.10