It was a black market bust.
In February, a coordinated operation between the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) resulted in the seizure of nearly two million unauthorized electronic cigarette products at a port in Chicago. This large-scale enforcement effort aimed to prevent the influx of illegal e-cigarette shipments into the United States. The total estimated retail value of the confiscated products was approximately $33.8 million.
Most of the seized e-cigarettes originated from China and were destined for distribution across multiple U.S. states. According to federal authorities, many of these shipments were deliberately mislabeled or undervalued in an apparent effort to bypass import regulations and avoid detection. These actions also appeared intended to sidestep customs duties and FDA product safety evaluations.
FDA officials noted that the intercepted shipments often had vague or misleading product descriptions, which complicates efforts to monitor and regulate tobacco product imports. Despite attempts to disguise the contents, the agencies were able to identify and confiscate the unapproved items. Acting director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, Dr. Bret Koplow, stated that the agency remains vigilant in stopping these unlawful products from reaching consumers.
None of the e-cigarette products in the seized shipment had received the FDA’s required premarket authorization, making them illegal to sell or distribute within the country. As a result, the FDA announced that all of the confiscated items would be destroyed.
In its broader enforcement campaign, the FDA has issued hundreds of warning letters and financial penalties to those involved in the unauthorized production, sale, and distribution of tobacco products. This includes over 750 letters to manufacturers and distributors and more than 800 to retailers, as well as civil penalties filed against dozens of businesses found in violation of federal tobacco laws.
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