Croatia customs seize 970 illegal vapes ordered online by minors as health concerns grow

Croatia cracks down on online vape shipments

Croatian customs officials have stopped the entry of 970 disposable electronic cigarettes, commonly known as vapes, that were ordered online by minors and young adults, highlighting growing concerns over the illegal distribution of unregulated vaping products.

The seizure was reported by RTL Danas, which revealed that the devices were mainly arriving from China, but also through illegal warehouses operating within the European Union.

According to the Croatian Customs Administration, some buyers intended to use the products themselves, while others planned to resell them.

“Those vapes, or electronic cigarettes, were ordered online by minors and young adults. Such cigarettes come from China, but also from illegal warehouses within the European Union,” said Marinela Galetić Sabo, an inspector from the Mobile Units Service of the Rijeka Customs Office.

Experts warn about unknown contents

Health authorities have warned that electronic cigarettes are not harmless, particularly when products come from unofficial sources where their ingredients and quality cannot be verified.

“Such devices are not harmless, which is why their use is prohibited for people under the age of 18. The import and distribution of untested products through unofficial channels is especially concerning because no one knows their contents or what consequences they may cause,” said Željko Petković, assistant director of the Croatian Institute of Public Health responsible for addiction issues.

The Croatian Institute of Public Health plans to analyse samples of the confiscated devices to determine what substances they contain.

“In cooperation with Customs, we will select several devices and analyse their contents to establish what is inside them,” Petković said.

Doctors report rise in vape-related cases among teenagers

Medical professionals have also raised concerns over the impact of vaping products on young people.

During May, five children were treated at the emergency department of the University Hospital Centre Zagreb due to issues linked to electronic cigarette use.

“We are certainly seeing more patients because of vapes, and recently there have been more cases of poisoning from products advertised as THC vapes, although they often are not what they claim to be,” said Jasmin Hamzić, an emergency medicine specialist at the hospital.

The patients were mainly secondary school students aged between 15 and 17. Symptoms included chest pain, vomiting, loss of consciousness and episodes resembling seizures.

Hamzić added that several cases involved young men from the same area of Zagreb, prompting communication with public health authorities for further analysis.

The confiscated vape devices will be destroyed, while those involved in ordering them face financial penalties.

Croatian Customs issued a total of €4,350 in fines, submitted four requests for proceedings before youth courts and issued seven offence notices to young adults.

Those responsible will also have to pay nearly €6,000 in excise duties.

Customs officials said that over the past year they have seized around 50,000 electronic cigarettes, underlining the scale of the illegal market and the growing challenge of controlling online sales of vaping products.