The raids were reported by the Phuket Info Center. Patong Police have yet to report the raids and arrests.
The raids were held specifically to target people illegally selling vaping devices and providing hookahs, locally called ‘baraku’, to customers on Bangla Rd, said the report.
In total, seven people were arrested, including one foreigner who was a store manager at one venue, the report added.
The report did not name any of the suspects arrested, or their nationalities.
While very common and easily found on Phuket, vaping devices and their liquids remain illegal in Thailand, and remain illegal to bring into the country under Section 242 and Section 246 of the Customs Act B.E. 2017.
Baraku also remain illegal in Thailand under a Ministry of Commerce regulation introduced in 2o14. People caught with the devices are charged with possession of an item illegally imported to Thailand.