PF arrests woman for smuggling electronic cigarettes from SP to MS – Interior

A woman, whose identity was not revealed, was arrested in Três Lagoas, 327 km from the Capital, for smuggling electronic cigarettes from the state of São Paulo to Mato Grosso do Sul. The arrest and seizure are part of Operation Fake Student, in combat to the smuggling of electronic cigarettes, triggered this Thursday (25) by the PF-MS (Federal Police of Mato Grosso do Sul).

According to the PF, the investigation began with the arrest in the act of a woman who was carrying electronic cigarettes in a hidden compartment of her vehicle. During police investigations, the woman’s participation in the scheme to resell products prohibited for sale in Brazil, as well as their recipients, was confirmed.

During the action, a search and seizure warrant was also executed at an establishment in São Paulo (SP), which sold products prohibited from entering the country.

The quantity of products seized has not yet been disclosed by the PF-MS. Furthermore, the PF-MS also reported that the investigation is ongoing to identify other people involved in the criminal practice.

Prohibition – Last Friday (19), Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) decided to maintain the ban on electronic cigarettes in Brazil. As a result, the sale, manufacture and import, transportation, storage and advertising of these products remains prohibited. The five directors voted for the ban, in force since 2009, to continue nationwide.

Yesterday (24), Anvisa also published the resolution that prohibits the manufacture, import, sale, distribution, storage, transport and advertising of electronic smoking devices.

The text defines electronic smoking devices as “smoking products whose emissions are generated with the help of a system powered by electricity, battery or other non-combustible source, which mimics the act of smoking”.

Included in the category are disposable or reusable products, consisting of a unit that heats one or more matrices and known as e-cigs, electronic nicotine delivery systems, e-pod, pen-drive, pod, vapes, heated tobacco product, heated tobacco product and vaporizers.

The publication also prohibits the entry into the country of products brought by travelers by any form of import, including accompanied baggage or hand luggage. “Failure to comply with this resolution constitutes a health violation.”

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