Kazakhstan Seizes $50,000 Worth of Smuggled E-Cigarettes; Two Sentenced to Six Months in Prison

Jul.22

On July 18, 2025, Kazakhstan’s financial watchdog seized two trucks at the Russian border carrying large quantities of illegal e-cigarettes. Two suspects were sentenced to six months in prison, and the vehicles were confiscated. A month earlier, authorities in Pavlodar had intercepted e-cigarettes worth 100 million tenge ($190,000).

Key Points:

·Event overview: On July 18, 2025, two freight vehicles departing from Russia were detained at the Kazakhstan border, carrying a large quantity of illegal e-cigarette products.

·Prohibited items: 13,000 e-cigarettes, 2,000 e-liquid cartridges, and 14,000 smokeless tobacco products.

·Legal consequences: The court sentenced two individuals involved to 6 months in prison and confiscated the vehicles used for transportation.

·Background information: In June 2025, the Pavlodar region had previously seized over 5,600 e-cigarettes worth 100 million tenge (approximately $190,000).

【2Firsts News Flash】According to a report from Zakon.kz on July 18th, e-cigarette smugglers were detained upon entering Kazakhstan.

On July 18, 2025, the Financial Supervisory Authority (AFM) reported that two freight trucks originating from the Russian Federation were detained at the border checkpoint.

A large quantity of illegal products were found among them.

·13,000 e-cigarettes;

·2,000 bottles of e-liquid;

·14,000 smokeless tobacco products.

The court has found both individuals guilty in this matter and sentenced them to 6 months in prison each.

The Afghan armed forces added that：

“Vehicles carrying e-cigarettes with a total value of 26 million hryvnias (approximately $50,000) have been confiscated for transportation.”

In June 2025, authorities in the Pavalodar region seized over 5,600 e-cigarettes worth 100 million tenge (approximately $190,000).

References:

[1] Забитые вейпами грузовики остановили на въезде из России в Казахстан

Also Read:

[1] Kazakhstan Public Health Law Amendments Take Effect: Full Ban on Heated Tobacco, E-Cigarettes, and Vape Liquids

[2] Moscow Store Caught Selling Tobacco Illegally Ordered to Shut Down; Court Bans Leasing Premises for Tobacco Sales

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