Suspected Production and Sale of Counterfeit "Fruit-Flavored E-Cigarettes," 10 People Sentenced in First Instance Trial

Beijing News (Reporter Zhang Jingshu) — On the afternoon of March 17, the People’s Court of Chaoyang District, Beijing, held an open trial for a case involving the production and sale of counterfeit “fruit-flavored electronic cigarettes.” Defendants Feng Mouyu, Li Moumou, and eight others conspired between 2023 and 2024 to produce and sell fake “fruit-flavored electronic cigarettes.” The prosecution filed charges of manufacturing and selling counterfeit products, and the court sentenced Feng Mouyu, Li Moumou, and others to prison terms ranging from eight years and eight months to two years.

The prosecution and court investigation found that between 2023 and 2024, defendant Feng Mouyu, together with defendants Li Moumou, Bai Moumou, and Wang Moumou, conspired across provinces in Beijing to order the production of “fruit-flavored electronic cigarettes” from defendant Xu and Zhao. Feng Mouyu and three others participated in designing the “fruit-flavored electronic cigarettes” and created their own brand. Later, Xu and Zhao, under the guise of a biotech company, entrusted third parties to produce the products. To evade government regulation of “fruit-flavored electronic cigarettes,” Xu and Zhao used false materials through defendant Yu to declare customs, illegally replacing the products that should have been exported, and shipped the prohibited “fruit-flavored electronic cigarettes” into China for sale online and offline. Yu received a bribe of 160,000 yuan from Xu and Zhao.

Feng Mouyu hired relatives Liu and Feng Wen to handle offline sales of the “fruit-flavored electronic cigarettes” at their leased storefront, while Li Moumou, Bai Moumou, and Wang Moumou sold through their respective channels. The total sales amount has been verified at 1.8 million yuan. Defendant Xu, aware that Feng Mouyu, Li Moumou, and others were illegally producing and selling counterfeit “fruit-flavored electronic cigarettes,” still purchased these counterfeit products and sold them online, with total sales exceeding 200,000 yuan.

After the arrest of Feng Mouyu, Liu, and others, investigators seized over 20,000 units of unsold “fruit-flavored electronic cigarettes” from Feng’s shop and other locations, all of which were identified as counterfeit.

The Chaoyang Court, after review, concluded that defendants Feng Mouyu, Li Moumou, and five others knowingly produced and sold counterfeit “fruit-flavored electronic cigarettes,” with sales totaling 1.8 million yuan, constituting the crime of manufacturing and selling counterfeit products. Defendant Yu, knowing that others were selling counterfeit products, still assisted with customs declarations and logistics. Feng Wen, Liu, and Xu participated in the specific sale of counterfeit products, and their actions also constituted the crime of selling counterfeit products.

The court sentenced Feng Mouyu, Li Moumou, and others to prison terms ranging from eight years and eight months to five years, with fines between 2 million and 500,000 yuan. Feng Wen, Liu, and others received sentences from two years and four months to two years, with fines between 200,000 and 100,000 yuan.

The first-instance verdict has not yet taken effect.

Judge Wang Yang, who presided over the case, explained that electronic cigarettes are devices that heat nicotine-containing solutions to produce vapor for inhalation. In recent years, flavored electronic cigarettes such as fruit, candy, and beverage types have appeared on the market. The strong nicotine aroma, after processing, is easily masked, making these products highly attractive to minors. These products are often packaged as “fashionable toys,” significantly lowering the barrier for minors to access them, and have become an entry point for nicotine addiction and transition to traditional tobacco.

The reason “fruit-flavored electronic cigarettes” are banned is because flavored e-cigarettes contain complex ingredients, which can lead to safety issues such as nicotine overdose, heavy metal contamination, and liquid leaks. The wide variety of flavors also causes product chaos, making standardization and traceability difficult, thus providing space for counterfeit and illegal sales. Some merchants falsely promote them as “healthy,” “non-addictive,” or “quit-smoking aids,” misleading consumers, disrupting market regulation, and seriously endangering public health, especially minors.

This case originated from administrative supervision, targeting cross-province criminal groups involved in the production, sale, and transportation of counterfeit electronic cigarettes, cutting off the circulation chain of counterfeit products, and effectively purifying the market environment. It demonstrates the judiciary’s firm stance and strict attitude toward cracking down on illegal electronic cigarette activities.