Robert BarnesThe FDA, in partnership with U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, has seized nearly 630,000 illegal vape products from a warehouse in Miami, Florida.
The seized products, worth an estimated $7 Million, consist mainly of flavored disposable e-cigarettes from well-known brands such as Geek Bar. Vape kits, batteries, and other unauthorized products were also found.
This is the first enforcement action of 2025 carried out by the joint federal task force set up in June 2024 to tackle the importation and distribution of unauthorized e-cigarettes. Previous seizures include $76 Million of illegal Chinese vapes found in October and 53,700 unauthorized e-cigarettes discovered in June, both at the Port of Chicago.
“An ‘All Government’ approach is critical to preventing unauthorized e-cigarettes from entering the United States. Today’s action is another step in the right direction, and we remain committed to continuing to work with our federal partners to continue to combat the entry of these illegal products head on.” – Brian King, Ph.D., M.P.H., director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products
The illegal products in this latest seizure came to the attention of authorities during random warehouse sweeps carried out by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials.
As with most disposable e-cigarettes, the products originated in China and were said to be destined for distribution to numerous U.S. states. All of the e-cigarette products had been misdeclared as something other than what they were (previously seized shipments of unauthorized vapes have been labeled as electronic atomizers or even as toys).
They had also been deliberately undervalued to avoid paying the appropriate import duties.
What will happen to these more than half a million disposables has not yet been confirmed, but they will likely be subject to standard practices for products forfeited to the government. In the case of unauthorized new tobacco products such as e-cigarettes, that usually means they will be destroyed.
It is not unreasonable to assume that the distributors, stores, and other retailers the products were destined to be sent to will also receive some unwelcome scrutiny.
As well as U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Joint Federal Task Force targeting illegal e-cigarettes includes the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Federal Trade Commission.
It has a very long reach and, as this latest seizure shows, it is committed to preventing the importation, distribution, and sale of illegal vapes in the U.S.
Versed Vaper Team
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