PHUKET, THAILAND – Cops smashed an illegal shisha den in Rassada after undercover officers ordered a smoke. The operator was cuffed and 18 smuggled items seized.
Provincial authorities in Phuket are cracking down on illegal shisha services at entertainment venues. A coordinated raid in Rassada caught one operator red-handed.
Undercover officers ordered shisha and pounced
The raid team sent plainclothes cops into the venue. They ordered a shisha and got a receipt for the purchase.
With the receipt as proof, the officers revealed themselves, arrested the operator, and secured the evidence. The bust followed public complaints about illegal services.
More than a dozen evidence items seized
Officers confiscated 18 items during the raid. Among them was a container of shisha tobacco weighing 215 grammes.
Authorities did not disclose exactly what else was taken. The entire haul was documented for prosecution.
Shishas and e-cigarettes are double-banned
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce classifies shishas and electronic shishas as banned imports. The Consumer Protection Board also bans the sale and provision of shisha products and e-cigarettes.
That made the service illegal on two fronts. The operator now faces court.
Charges under two laws possible
The suspect faces charges under the Customs Act of 2017 and the Consumer Protection Act of 1979. Authorities handed the case to the Phuket City Police Station for further prosecution.
The laws target smuggled goods and consumer protection violations. Police have taken over the investigation.