On 4/2, Nguyen Ngoc Quoc Uy and six accomplices, aged 22-26, were prosecuted and temporarily detained by the Economic Police Department (PC03) of Ho Chi Minh City Police for trading prohibited goods. This action followed an extensive investigation into a large-scale illegal e-cigarette operation.
Authorities had previously identified a sophisticated network supplying and distributing e-cigarettes in Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring provinces. This ring conducted wholesale and retail sales through a widespread transaction network, using shippers for continuous transport and delivery to avoid detection by regulatory agencies.
During surveillance, investigators identified Uy as the ringleader, organizing the e-cigarette trafficking operation since 2024. To conceal their illicit activities, the group registered a business household license but operated outside their stated industry, using this facade to hide their true dealings.
At the headquarters on Nguyen Cu Trinh street in Cau Ong Lanh ward, Uy had a secret room designed deep within the premises. The entrance to this hidden area was carefully concealed by shelves of drinks, and the room itself served as a clandestine warehouse for storing prohibited goods.
The group's operation process was secretive and sophisticated. Uy avoided direct transactions with walk-in customers, instead conducting all sales through social media platforms or e-commerce sites. Goods were imported at night, and when orders were ready for dispatch, they were passed through a small window to shippers, minimizing any potential access by outsiders to the warehouse.
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Nguyen Ngoc Quoc Uy (black shirt, far left) and his accomplices. *Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Police* |
After a period of surveillance, the Economic Police Department raided the location, seizing 140 cartons containing 28,657 products. The confiscated items included vaping devices, e-liquids, nicotine pouches, and various replacement parts. The total estimated value of the sealed consignment was over 4.8 billion VND.
Electronic data analysis revealed the scale of the operation: since January 2025 alone, Uy's system had processed over 7,100 orders, generating total revenue exceeding 4 billion VND. The six employees assisting Uy received salaries and commissions, with their earnings directly linked to the volume of sales they facilitated.
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Evidence seized by police. *Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Police* |
At the police station, the group admitted their full awareness that e-cigarettes are harmful nicotine-containing products, explicitly prohibited from business by the state. Despite this knowledge, they continued the illegal operation, driven by the lure of high profits.
Authorities determined this case was professional in nature, characterized by the exploitation of high technology and a business facade for illicit gains. This activity posed a negative impact on public health.
Quoc Thang
