PATTAYA, CHONBURI – Investigators have shut down a complete e-cigarette factory in a warehouse in Nong Pla Lai, ending clandestine production. A Thai driver was caught red-handed, and two workers from Myanmar were apprehended after a short escape. The products brazenly bore the label “Made in China” – yet they were manufactured right in Pattaya. The hunt for the Chinese mastermind is now in full swing.
Illegal Factory Discovered in Warehouse
On June 8, 2026, officials from the Bang Lamung Police Station, local administrative forces, and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) searched the building at 67/24 Moo 2. They found a fully equipped factory producing a well-known e-cigarette brand in large quantities. Finished devices and countless components were piled high in the warehouse.
Most workers fled before the units could enter the building. Only a Thai delivery driver was caught by the officers. He was reportedly on his way to Bangkok to deliver e-cigarettes to customers.
“Made in China” – A Brazen Lie
The initial impression was deceptive: all packaging bore the imprint “Made in China,” yet the products were illegally produced right here in Pattaya. According to initial findings, the production process ran like an assembly line. Workers first loaded the batteries, then filled the units with various flavored liquids.
Subsequently, the e-cigarettes were vacuum-sealed and prepared in boxes for transport. The final inventory of seized goods is still pending – officers speak of such large quantities that counting could not be completed on the first day.
Escape Attempt Fails After 500 Meters
Police and law enforcement immediately combed the surrounding area. Two nationals from Myanmar, who had fled through a back door, were apprehended approximately 500 meters from the warehouse. Initially, they gave contradictory statements, but later confessed.
The two men stated they had moved boxes in the factory for a meager monthly wage of 13,000 Baht. They claimed to have had no involvement in the actual production. They unanimously identified a Chinese national as the on-site factory manager.
Forensics Team Secures Traces
Police Major General Phongphan Wongmonithet, commander of the Chonburi Provincial Police, inspected the facility along with customs and excise officials. Simultaneously, specialists from the Forensic Science Centre 2, led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Thatchakorn Chaisit, arrived to thoroughly examine the production site for forensic evidence.
Investigators secured fingerprints and DNA traces, seized production documents, manufacturing equipment, and all tangible evidence. The traces are now intended to help identify the masterminds and particularly the Chinese financiers behind the network.
Drug Suppression Zone as a Cover
A curious detail on the side: the factory operated in Moo 2 in Nong Pla Lai, an area actually designated for a sustainable community project to combat drug problems. It was precisely there that a well-coordinated team secretly produced a different kind of addictive substance.
Investigators suspect a widespread network and are working feverishly to identify and hold the Chinese investors accountable.
Large Raid with Joint Press Conference
The case has generated significant attention, prompting high-profile attendance for June 9, 2026. The Minister of Justice, the Deputy National Police Chief, and the Governor of Chonburi are scheduled to jointly present the explosive findings of the operation at a major press conference.
Investigations to identify the Chinese investors and masterminds are ongoing. Authorities are relying on the secured evidence and forensic results to fully uncover the network and initiate further measures.