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N atalia is sitting on a leather chair in the corner of her office. "I need to be invisible," she insisted. She is moving her hands, one on the other. It seemed to relax her. She took off her glasses and motioned for me to sit down. "Do you want a partner?"

In the dimly lit room, a whole wall was lined with shelves, and inside were white papers and neatly stacked small colored boxes. "Of course I have doubts," she continued, while she cleaned up the neatly arranged files on her desk and served me. "Even afraid."

From elsewhere in the house came the voice of a child calling his mother. Natalia got up, opened the door, and let her husband take care of him. "I'm being interviewed, my dear!"

I am visiting Natalia (pseudonym) in Buenos Aires. She is in her 40s and is a middle-class university graduate. Like many women in Argentina, she started her own business after losing her job. But unlike most people, Natalia is regarded as a criminal by the Argentine government.

That's because her business is selling electronic cigarette products. As early as 2011, when ANMAT (National Administration of Medicines, Food and Medical Technology) issued Administrative Regulation No. 3226-11, the government banned face-to-face and online sales, distribution, and imports. Depending on the situation, possible penalties include confiscation, fines and even imprisonment.

This makes Natalia one of a group of entrepreneurs who are now convicted in Argentina and other countries. Most illegal shop owners and e-liquid or equipment manufacturers, like Natalia, are themselves e-cigarette users and former smokers. Business is usually carried out with professionalism and respect for the needs of customers. They work in the dark and deal with smugglers to obtain their shares, usually at significant personal risks.

It is estimated that as many as 25% of adults in Argentina (Tobacco Atlas says the percentage is low, 21% for men and 12.6% for women) smoke, and of course cigarettes are legally sold-one of the highest rates in Latin America . The annual number of deaths related to smoking is estimated to be between 40,000-48,000. You might think that this situation needs to reduce the harm of tobacco.

Combined with this, the country faced major economic challenges even before the global turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Buenos Aires, the male unemployment rate exceeds 20%. There are more than 4 million women across the country who are the main breadwinners of the family, including Natalia.

Natalia has been married to Juan for 15 years. "We live a very normal life, we live a good life-no luxury, but good," she continued. But about ten years ago, the company that employed her and Juan at the same time merged with another multinational company. "Some [overseas] colleagues were transferred to our positions. They fired all the employees in Argentina. We found out that we had no job, a child, and mortgages. You know what's going to happen... We leave Came here from our apartment, which is my grandparents’ house."

This is an old, tall and beautiful house located in a traditional neighborhood of Buenos Aires. Natalia remembers playing with her neighbors and cousins ​​there, especially when she was 12 years old one day, she hid in a tower in a nearby square. . Smoking is good and charming. "

She recalled that the adults in her life smoked. "I can close my eyes and remember the smell of cigarettes in various environments when I was young, in the room, on the clothes, on the wall. In high school, you smoke is cool because it is so common, in movies, on TV... you Grew up at that time."

From the age of 12, Natalia continued to smoke for 28 years-40 cigarettes a day. "I like to smoke," she said. "But for a while I wanted to at least take care of my health. Of course, I have thought about quitting countless times. But I can't do it."

"I never thought about smoking a cigarette for a moment."

In 2017, a friend visited from Spain and told her about e-cigarettes and insisted that she try it. "I have read some things about vaping, but in my opinion, I want to change some bad things because it has not been scientifically proven to be a good choice. Do you understand what I mean?"

But just a few days later, "I had an episode of terrible shortness of breath, so severe that I couldn't even walk. I was so scared, I called my friend, and he gave me advice through video calls and long phone conversations. And teach me how to start using e-cigarettes."

Natalia purchased a starter kit and some liquid bottles that were illegally available on the Internet. Finding that online Spanish e-cigarette information is scarce and contradictory, she conducted an experiment for herself, describing an early liquid she tried as "terrible."

But when she quickly mastered the trick, it was "just like magic." After that, "I never thought about smoking another cigarette."

When she talked, between drinking yerba mate and smoking e-cigarettes, Natalia showed the enthusiasm of many former smokers who have switched to e-cigarettes. Her experience inspired her to start a new way of making a living by helping people like her.

She began to resell the handmade liquid brand she used illegally produced in Argentina to her acquaintances.

Then another businessman showed her some in-depth websites where she can order products from overseas at wholesale prices. A specific supplier has been set up to provide services to merchants such as Natalia.

She handed in cash and received a pile of boxes without having a chance to inspect the contents.

After arranging a product purchase online, Natalia usually receives a text message stating the date. Then she will receive a call from an unknown number and designate a meeting point. The location changes every time, sometimes in the city center, sometimes miles away. Sometimes they will change again at the last minute.

In meetings, silence is the rule. She handed in cash and received a pile of boxes without having a chance to inspect the contents.

In this way, she gradually added more equipment and accessories to her impromptu catalog. More and more customers are coming. She now has a hidden website and a hidden showroom. She uses a third-party motorcycle service to deliver products to buyers.

However, she not only provides products, but also offers suggestions that she would like when she first started smoking e-cigarettes. "This is forbidden. They can't provide you with correct advice on handling, options, pros and cons," she said. "I started to get to know myself, review information and educate my clients. It is mainly elderly people who find it difficult to find information. They only find rubbish in newspapers and TV."

Although many of Natalia’s customers are women, she describes e-cigarettes in Argentina as “very masculine-85% of the people who use e-cigarettes in Argentina must be men.” According to Natalia, women who smoke are often illegal because of it. Sex and postpone the use of this harm-reducing resource. If they start smoking e-cigarettes, they "will not show themselves."

"Prohibition is scary. Especially the elderly and women," she said. "The content of the media reports scares those who consider starting to smoke e-cigarettes... lies and lack of information, lack of supervision, and anti-e-cigarette policies."

"I often receive threats from customers. They ask to report you under threats."

But Natalia's potential customers are not the only ones who are afraid. She herself must endure the constant threats posed by engaging in illegal activities.

"I often receive threats from customers," she said. "What they ask for is something they would never ask for in a normal business relationship. They made a request to report you under threat."

As some of Natalia's clients work for the federal government-some are even police or prosecutors, the possibility of such threats increases. She said such customers need special attention because they fear that retaliation is imminent.

In an unregulated market, your competitors may also be more than just business threats. "There are many disloyal colleagues who complain about their colleagues or people they don't like, just to reduce competition and monopolize the market," Natalia said. "Many of them are growing, dominate the market, and have the economic power to transfer more and more."

People engaged in e-cigarette transactions are often raided by ANMAT, AFIP (Argentine version of IRS) and customs. It can lead to federal charges ranging from "dangerous product trade" to smuggling and even "water pollution."

Many public officials understand that these products should not be banned, but feel that they must fulfill their obligations. Others use their power to legally vulnerable traders to demand "reminders." Some people even use their positions as a cover to participate in the market.

"We only require fair and safe supervision of consumers and our businesses," Natalia said. "Today, our risk of buying smuggled goods is the risk of investment failure, being robbed on the way, surprises, the risk of defective products or fakes reaching customers, the risk of selling unregulated liquids-I am very concerned about quality control, because the produced Fake liquids cannot be distinguished from real liquids."

Natalia also feels the evaluation and stigmatization of acquaintances who know her business.

"As a trader, I love my job," she concluded. "I like the idea that the products I sell can help so many people live healthier lives. But I can't stand the underworld. In addition to the dangers-especially for women-his procedures are very cumbersome, impossible and disturbing. Exhausted. I have to pay taxes and grow up with my job. I don’t have to hide like a drug dealer and buy at the assembly point for fear that the police will stop you."

There is no sign that Natalia will realize her wish anytime soon. ANMAT confirmed the continuation of the national ban in November 2016 and conducted a closed-door assessment of the health effects of e-cigarettes. It is not clear what they think there is evidence to prove that this decision is correct, because institutions such as the Royal College of Physicians and the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Mathematics have determined that e-cigarettes are much less harmful than smoking. replacement of.

"They [ANMAT] do not investigate the product," Natalia said. "They just told us that they don't know what risks e-cigarettes will bring, so they ban e-cigarettes because there are researches around the world that support e-cigarettes."

"It is possible to reduce the damage; you are on time."

When I asked about the future of her business, Natalia became emotional. She described it as "very bad" and again pointed out the stress of living in constant fear. She said that if the e-cigarette business is legalized in Argentina, she will establish a "European style" club for people to taste and buy products, where they can get help and advice in every step of the transition from smoking.

Currently, this is just a dream. But Natalia wanted to end with a message of the here and now.

"People must know that this may be a very difficult process, but it is not impossible. Because of e-cigarettes, we have thousands of people quit smoking, many of whom are surprisingly easy. We want to tell the world, yes, this is It is possible. I want to leave this message to you, especially female smokers, mothers of young children, and grandmothers: It is possible to reduce harm; you are on time."

Buenos Aires street photo from NeedPix.com/Public Domain

Gianluca Capellani is a journalist’s pseudonym, and he wishes to remain anonymous for reasons related to the investigation. He is a vaper and a former smoker for nearly 30 years. His work focuses on stories about international politics, social justice and human rights. He lives in Brazil.

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