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Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
U.S. officials say Chicago sting in February seized nearly $34M in illegal e-cigs
May 22 (UPI) -- Tens of millions of dollars worth of illegal e-cigarette products were seized in Chicago in a joint operation between the FDA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, officials said Thursday. Officials say the sting in February that uncovered the China-originated packages was valued at about $33.8 million and were intended for distribution to multiple states. Investigators uncovered several illegal e-cig brands such as Snoopy Smoke, Raz and more. "We continue to see an increased number of shipments of vaping related products packaged and mislabeled to avoid detection," said Bret Koplow, acting director of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products. The FDA and CBP sit on a joint federal task force focused on e-cigarette enforcement activity. "However, we have been successful at preventing these shipments from entering the U.S. supply chain," Koplow said, despite efforts to "conceal the true identity of these unauthorized e-cigarette products." February's seizure in Illinois was part of a joint federal operation to examine incoming U.S. shipments and prevent the entry of illegal e-cigarettes. "Seizures of illegal e-cigarettes keep products that haven't been authorized by the FDA out of the United States and out of the hands of our nation's youth," said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary. On Thursday, the FDA said many of the unauthorized shipments contained vague product descriptions with incorrect values in an "apparent attempt to evade duties." According to federal officials, most shipments violate the FDA's food, drug and cosmetic laws, while other products get confiscated due to intellectual property right violations on trademarked items. Additionally, they added that FDA officials sent import letters warning 24 tobacco importers. At the end of April, border agents busted a shipment of some 17,500 fake brand cigarettes from Vietnam valued at nearly $730,000 after pausing its arrival in Miami and intercepting it days later in Texas. Last year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Chicago made 121 seizures that contained more than 3.2 million banned electronic nicotine devices worth over $81 million, and the agency made a similar million-dollar seizure in June of illegal vape pens offloaded from China.
UPI
22-05-2025
- UPI
U.S. officials say Chicago sting in February seized nearly $34M in illegal e-cigs
The FDA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection teamed up for a joint operation that recovered tens of millions of dollars worth of illegal e-cigarette products seized in Chicago, officials said Thursday. FDA Commissioner Martin Makary (pictured in March in Washington, D.C.) said the effort helps keeps e-cigs "out of the hands of our nation's youth." File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo May 22 (UPI) -- Tens of millions of dollars worth of illegal e-cigarette products were seized in Chicago in a joint operation between the FDA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, officials said Thursday. Officials say the sting in February that uncovered the China-originated packages was valued at about $33.8 million and were intended for distribution to multiple states. Investigators uncovered several illegal e-cig brands such as Snoopy Smoke, Raz and more. "We continue to see an increased number of shipments of vaping related products packaged and mislabeled to avoid detection," said Bret Koplow, acting director of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products. The FDA and CBP sit on a joint federal task force focused on e-cigarette enforcement activity. "However, we have been successful at preventing these shipments from entering the U.S. supply chain," Koplow said, despite efforts to "conceal the true identity of these unauthorized e-cigarette products." February's seizure in Illinois was part of a joint federal operation to examine incoming U.S. shipments and prevent the entry of illegal e-cigarettes. "Seizures of illegal e-cigarettes keep products that haven't been authorized by the FDA out of the United States and out of the hands of our nation's youth," said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary. On Thursday, the FDA said many of the unauthorized shipments contained vague product descriptions with incorrect values in an "apparent attempt to evade duties." According to federal officials, most shipments violate the FDA's food, drug and cosmetic laws, while other products get confiscated due to intellectual property right violations on trademarked items. Additionally, they added that FDA officials sent import letters warning 24 tobacco importers. At the end of April, border agents busted a shipment of some 17,500 fake brand cigarettes from Vietnam valued at nearly $730,000 after pausing its arrival in Miami and intercepting it days later in Texas. Last year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Chicago made 121 seizures that contained more than 3.2 million banned electronic nicotine devices worth over $81 million, and the agency made a similar million-dollar seizure in June of illegal vape pens offloaded from China.
22-05-2025
Nearly $34 million worth of illegal e-cigarettes seized by federal officials
Federal authorities seized nearly $34 million worth of illegal e-cigarettes in their latest effort to crack down on unauthorized vaping products entering the U.S. The Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection discovered nearly two million illegal e-cigarette units during inspections in Chicago this February, officials announced Thursday. Almost all the products came from China and included brands like Snoopy Smoke and Raz. In a new move to combat illegal imports, the FDA also sent warning letters to 24 companies that bring tobacco products into the country. "We can and will do more to stop illegal e-cigarettes from coming into the United States," FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said in the press release. "These seizures keep unauthorized products away from our nation's youth." More than 20 million e-cigarettes are sold each month in the U.S., according to CDC Foundation data. However, only 34 tobacco and menthol-flavored e-cigarette products are allowed to be sold in the U.S. Officials said many companies tried to sneak illegal products past customs by using fake labels and incorrect values on shipping documents. "We keep finding more shipments of vaping products that are packaged and mislabeled to avoid getting caught," according to Bret Koplow, who leads the FDA's tobacco regulation center. "But we're getting better at stopping these products before they reach U.S. stores." The FDA said the seized products would be destroyed. This operation was part of an ongoing effort that had already stopped more than $77 million worth of illegal e-cigarettes in the past year through similar raids in Los Angeles, Miami, and Chicago. The agency has also issued more than 750 warning letters to companies making or selling unauthorized vaping products and over 800 warnings to stores selling them. It also filed financial penalties against 87 manufacturers and more than 175 retailers.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Nearly $34 million worth of illegal e-cigarettes seized by federal officials
Federal authorities seized nearly $34 million worth of illegal e-cigarettes in their latest effort to crack down on unauthorized vaping products entering the U.S. The Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection discovered nearly two million illegal e-cigarette units during inspections in Chicago this February, officials announced Thursday. Almost all the products came from China and included brands like Snoopy Smoke and Raz. In a new move to combat illegal imports, the FDA also sent warning letters to 24 companies that bring tobacco products into the country. "We can and will do more to stop illegal e-cigarettes from coming into the United States," FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said in the press release. "These seizures keep unauthorized products away from our nation's youth." More than 20 million e-cigarettes are sold each month in the U.S., according to CDC Foundation data. However, only 34 tobacco and menthol-flavored e-cigarette products are allowed to be sold in the U.S. Officials said many companies tried to sneak illegal products past customs by using fake labels and incorrect values on shipping documents. "We keep finding more shipments of vaping products that are packaged and mislabeled to avoid getting caught," according to Bret Koplow, who leads the FDA's tobacco regulation center. "But we're getting better at stopping these products before they reach U.S. stores." The FDA said the seized products would be destroyed. This operation was part of an ongoing effort that had already stopped more than $77 million worth of illegal e-cigarettes in the past year through similar raids in Los Angeles, Miami, and Chicago. The agency has also issued more than 750 warning letters to companies making or selling unauthorized vaping products and over 800 warnings to stores selling them. It also filed financial penalties against 87 manufacturers and more than 175 retailers. Nearly $34 million worth of illegal e-cigarettes seized by federal officials originally appeared on
