Phuket—
Provincial officials in Phuket have intensified efforts to regulate entertainment venues following public complaints about illegal hookah services recently. A coordinated raid led to the arrest of one suspect and the seizure of 18 items of contraband.
Authorities told the Phuket Express that the enforcement teams deployed undercover officers to a venue in Rassada. After successfully ordering a hookah and obtaining a receipt, officers revealed their identities, arrested the operator, and confiscated evidence.
Seized Items were:
- 13 complete hookah sets
- 32 hookah heads
- 7 hoses
- 2 heat management devices
- 1 container of hookah tobacco (215 grams)
- 1 smoking accessory
The suspect faces charges under the Customs Act (2017) and violations of the Consumer Protection Act (1979), following Ministry of Commerce regulations that classify hookahs and electronic hookahs as prohibited imports. Thailand’s Consumer Protection Board also bans the sale and service of hookah products and e-cigarettes. The case has been handed over to Phuket City Police Station for prosecution.
