$34M Illegal E-Cigarettes Seized – FDA & CBP Action
- Federal authorities have confiscated nearly two million units of unauthorized e-cigarette products in Chicago, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced.
- The operation uncovered shipments of various illegal e-cigarette brands, primarily from China, destined for multiple U.S.
- FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said the agency is committed to stopping the illegal importation and distribution of e-cigarette products.
Federal authorities, in a decisive move, have seized nearly two million illegal e-cigarette units in Chicago, valued at an estimated $33.8 million.This major operation by the FDA and CBP, targeting unauthorized imports, highlights a important crackdown on illicit tobacco products. The majority of the contraband, including brands like Snoopy Smoke and Raz, originated from China. These seizures, conducted in February, underscore the FDA’s commitment to preventing the distribution of unauthorized vaping products and avoiding youth access. The intercepted shipments, often mislabeled, violated the FD&C Act by lacking required premarket authorization. News Directory 3 continues to monitor the FDA’s efforts to curtail these dangerous practices. Discover what’s next for future FDA-CBP collaborations aiming to halt illegal shipments.
FDA Seizes Millions in Illegal E-Cigarettes in Chicago
Federal authorities have confiscated nearly two million units of unauthorized e-cigarette products in Chicago, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced. The estimated retail value of the seized tobacco products is $33.8 million. The seizures, a joint effort with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP),occurred in Febuary as part of an operation targeting illegal e-cigarette imports.
The operation uncovered shipments of various illegal e-cigarette brands, primarily from China, destined for multiple U.S. states. According to officials, many shipments contained vague product descriptions and incorrect values, seemingly to avoid duties and import safety reviews. Brands seized included Snoopy Smoke and Raz, among others.
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said the agency is committed to stopping the illegal importation and distribution of e-cigarette products. “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,” Makary said.
Bret Koplow, acting director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, noted an increase in mislabeled vaping products intended to avoid detection. he affirmed the agency’s success in preventing these shipments from entering the U.S. supply chain.
Most of the seized shipments violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), with some products also seized for intellectual property rights violations.All lacked the required premarket authorization from the FDA,making their marketing and distribution illegal in the U.S.
The FDA also sent import informational letters to 24 tobacco importers and entry filers, warning against false statements to the U.S. government and requesting facts on compliance measures. the agency requested responses within 30 days.
Prior joint FDA-CBP actions include seizures of illegal e-cigarettes valued at $18 million in Los Angeles in 2023, $7 million in Miami, and over $77 million in Chicago in June and October 2024.
In addition to seizures, the FDA has issued hundreds of warning letters and civil money penalty complaints to manufacturers and retailers of unauthorized tobacco products.
What’s next
The FDA and CBP will continue their collaboration to identify and intercept illegal shipments of unauthorized e-cigarette products, focusing on protecting public health and preventing youth access to these products.