Home
Company
Product
Regulation
China
Data
Exhibition
Interview
中文版
Home
Company
Product
Regulation
China
Data
Exhibition
Interview
中文版
Search

Chinese National Arrested Near Pattaya, Thailand for Illegal Sale of Ketamine-Laced Vapes

Aug.22.2025
Chinese National Arrested Near Pattaya, Thailand for Illegal Sale of Ketamine-Laced Vapes
On August 21, 2025, Banglamung Police arrested a 41-year-old Chinese man, Yu Shizhone, in Chonburi’s Huai Yai area after uncovering his role in selling ketamine-laced vapes, known as “K-vapes,” through online platforms. Authorities seized e-cigarette pods, drugs, and a firearm during the sting operation.

Key Points

 

  • Suspect: 41-year-old Chinese national, Yu Shizhone, residing in Thailand for over 8 months.
  • Sting Operation: Police arranged to buy 200 K-vape pods worth 200,000 baht; Yu attempted to flee in a white Toyota Yaris but was caught nearby.
  • Seizures: 24 K-vape pods and 1 used pod found in vehicle; residence search uncovered a 9mm Sig Sauer handgun, 25 rounds of ammunition, 28 methamphetamine pills, crystal methamphetamine, ketamine, and drug paraphernalia.
  • Confession: Yu admitted to selling K-vapes illegally but claimed some drugs and the gun belonged to acquaintances. Police remain skeptical after drug tests confirmed narcotics in his system.
  • Charges: Violations of the Narcotics Act, Customs Act (e-cigarettes), and Firearms Act. Investigation ongoing.

 

 

According to a report by The Pattaya News on August 22, at 8:00 PM on August 21, 2025, police in Banglamung District, Chonburi Province, Thailand, successfully arrested a 41-year-old Chinese national, Yu Shizhone, in the Huai Yai area. He is suspected of illegally selling ketamine-laced e-cigarettes, known as “K-vapes”, through online platforms.

 

Investigators discovered that Yu had been using online platforms to sell ketamine-laced e-cigarettes, commonly referred to as “K-vapes,” targeting both Chinese and Thai customers. Police organized an undercover purchase of 200 K-vape pods for 200,000 baht (1,000 baht each).

 

When Yu suspected a trap, he attempted to escape in a white Toyota Yaris but was intercepted near a pharmacy in Takhian Tia, about one kilometer from the arranged meeting point.

 

A search of his vehicle uncovered 24 K-vape pods hidden under the driver’s seat and one used pod. A subsequent raid on his residence in Huai Yai uncovered a 9mm Sig Sauer handgun, 25 rounds of ammunition, 28 methamphetamine pills, drug paraphernalia, as well as quantities of crystal methamphetamine and ketamine.

 

During questioning, Yu admitted to residing in Thailand for more than eight months and selling K-vapes illegally. He claimed the methamphetamine belonged to another Chinese friend and the firearm had been pawned by a Thai acquaintance. However, police doubted his explanations after toxicology tests confirmed drug use, and noted his unusual behavior, including smiling during evidence photos despite facing serious charges.

 

Yu is now facing multiple charges under the Narcotics Act (possession and use), Customs Act (related to e-cigarettes), and Firearms Act. Authorities confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and legal proceedings will follow.

References:
[1] Chinese National Arrested Near Pattaya for Illegal Trade of Ketamine Laced Vapes
Also Read:
[1] Thai Police Raid Illegal Vape Operation, Seize Over 20,000 Products
[2] Thailand: Vape Products Worth $40,000 Seized in Loei Province, Suspect Charged with Illegal Import and Sales
[3] Thai Police Seize Over 20,000 Smuggled E-Cigarettes from Malaysia Worth Approximately $260,000

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn

Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

China Tobacco Regulation Shift：Policy Updates and Market Impact
China Tobacco Regulation Shift：Policy Updates and Market Impact
JTI Invests ₱2.1 Billion to Upgrade Batangas Manufacturing Hub, Adds First Southeast Asia DIET Facility
JTI Invests ₱2.1 Billion to Upgrade Batangas Manufacturing Hub, Adds First Southeast Asia DIET Facility
JTI Asia Manufacturing Corp. has invested ₱2.1 billion, or about $37 million, in its manufacturing site in Malvar, Batangas, Philippines, to expand tobacco-processing capabilities. About ₱1.9 billion is allocated to JTI's first Dry Ice Expanded Tobacco, or DIET, facility in Southeast Asia, while more than ₱177 million has been spent on expanding its Controlled Atmosphere treatment facility. The Batangas plant supplies the Philippine market and exports to 22 overseas markets, making it one of JTI's key manufacturing hubs in Asia.
Sep.24
2Firsts Interview | Cigarette Sales Fall as Smokeless Alternatives Gain in U.S. Convenience Stores, NACS Says
2Firsts Interview | Cigarette Sales Fall as Smokeless Alternatives Gain in U.S. Convenience Stores, NACS Says
Ahead of the 2026 NACS Show, 2Firsts interviewed Chris Rapanick, NACS managing director of research, on changes reshaping the U.S. convenience-store tobacco and nicotine market. NACS data show cigarette sales declining while smokeless alternatives, including nicotine pouches, continue to grow. The interview also examines higher OTP margins, shifting backbar space, weaker store traffic, regulatory uncertainty and NACS’ outlook for 2027, offering a retailer-side view of one of the world’s largest nicotine markets.
Interview
Oct.03
FDA Unifies Tobacco Registration and Product Listing Form Across Product Categories
FDA Unifies Tobacco Registration and Product Listing Form Across Product Categories
The U.S. FDA has consolidated two tobacco establishment registration and product listing forms into a redesigned Form FDA 3741 covering all regulated product categories, including e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches. The current requirements remain limited to domestic establishments. Separately, the FDA has proposed extending registration and product listing requirements to foreign manufacturers, signaling greater regulatory attention to manufacturing entities and product-level information across the tobacco and nicotine supply chain.
FDA
Sep.30
Vape Manufacturer Ispire Expands Malaysia Operations, Negotiates Southeast Asia OEM Deal as Nicotine Pouch and US Age-Gating Businesses Develop
Vape Manufacturer Ispire Expands Malaysia Operations, Negotiates Southeast Asia OEM Deal as Nicotine Pouch and US Age-Gating Businesses Develop
US-listed vaping technology and manufacturing company Ispire Technology reported fiscal first-quarter 2027 revenue of $27.5 million on November 9, 2026, down 9.3% year over year but up 3.2% sequentially. Gross margin recovered to 16.2%, while its net loss widened to $6.4 million from $3.3 million a year earlier. Management attributed the sales decline primarily to tighter European vaping regulation and reduced distributor orders. Ispire is expanding manufacturing in Malaysia and negotiating an OEM/ODM agreement with a Southeast Asian vaping brand, with an announcement anticipated in January 2027. The company estimates that Malaysian manufacturing offers an approximately 25% US tariff advantage over China-based production. However, it continues to purchase products from Shenzhen Yi Jia Technology Co., Ltd., a manufacturer controlled by its chairman, and reported $52 million in non-current related-party payables at September 30.
company
Nov.11 by 2Firsts Perspectives
Kelly White Bets on Female Consumers as Nicotine Pouch Competition Intensifies | 2Firsts Interview
Kelly White Bets on Female Consumers as Nicotine Pouch Competition Intensifies | 2Firsts Interview
Swedish nicotine pouch brand Kelly White is building its strategy around adult female consumers. Founder and CEO Sophia Wilsby told 2Firsts that women accounted for around 70% of the brand’s repeat customers on HAYPP in Sweden in 2025. The interview explores female consumer segmentation, product and design differentiation, gender stereotypes, packaging regulation, and how independent brands can compete with global players such as ZYN and VELO while considering funding, partnerships and future ownership options.
Business
Sep.24
GAO Audit Finds Nearly 132,000 FDA Tobacco Applications Waiting an Average 1,266 Days as Nicotine Pouch Pilot Practices Move Into Vape PMTA Reviews
GAO Audit Finds Nearly 132,000 FDA Tobacco Applications Waiting an Average 1,266 Days as Nicotine Pouch Pilot Practices Move Into Vape PMTA Reviews
A U.S. Government Accountability Office audit found that 131,915 tobacco product applications submitted to the FDA since 2018 remained without a final review as of December 31, 2025, with pending applications waiting an average of 1,266 days. GAO also found FDA lacks the data needed to systematically determine whether scientific reviews meet applicable timelines. HHS agreed to upgrade the agency's tracking systems. At the same time, FDA has begun applying lessons from its nicotine pouch PMTA pilot to e-cigarette reviews, while changes to enforcement policy and electronic submissions are making the specific stage of a PMTA increasingly relevant to market access.
FDA
Oct.03
Related Topics
News Regulation
Related Read
JTI Invests ₱2.1 Billion to Upgrade Batangas Manufacturing Hub, Adds First Southeast Asia DIET Facility
JTI Invests ₱2.1 Billion to Upgrade Batangas Manufacturing Hub, Adds First Southeast Asia DIET Facility
2Firsts Interview | Cigarette Sales Fall as Smokeless Alternatives Gain in U.S. Convenience Stores, NACS Says
2Firsts Interview | Cigarette Sales Fall as Smokeless Alternatives Gain in U.S. Convenience Stores, NACS Says
FDA Unifies Tobacco Registration and Product Listing Form Across Product Categories
FDA Unifies Tobacco Registration and Product Listing Form Across Product Categories
Vape Manufacturer Ispire Expands Malaysia Operations, Negotiates Southeast Asia OEM Deal as Nicotine Pouch and US Age-Gating Businesses Develop
Vape Manufacturer Ispire Expands Malaysia Operations, Negotiates Southeast Asia OEM Deal as Nicotine Pouch and US Age-Gating Businesses Develop
2Firsts Perspectives
Kelly White Bets on Female Consumers as Nicotine Pouch Competition Intensifies | 2Firsts Interview
Kelly White Bets on Female Consumers as Nicotine Pouch Competition Intensifies | 2Firsts Interview
GAO Audit Finds Nearly 132,000 FDA Tobacco Applications Waiting an Average 1,266 Days as Nicotine Pouch Pilot Practices Move Into Vape PMTA Reviews
GAO Audit Finds Nearly 132,000 FDA Tobacco Applications Waiting an Average 1,266 Days as Nicotine Pouch Pilot Practices Move Into Vape PMTA Reviews
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Contact: info@2firsts.com
Stay up to date.
Submit your email to receive weekly newsletter on the most relevant news of the e-cigarette industry.
© 2026 2FIRSTS. All Right Reserved.
2FIRSTS is only accessible to industry practitioners, researchers, media and other professionals. Access by minors is prohibited.
This website provides services to users outside the Chinese mainland.
English
English
中文