Investing.com -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in collaboration with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized nearly two million units of unauthorized e-cigarette products in Chicago. The seized products, which were intercepted in February, are estimated to be worth $33.8 million. The seizures were part of a joint federal operation aimed at inspecting incoming shipments and preventing illegal e-cigarettes from entering the U.S.
The operation led to the discovery of various illegal e-cigarette products, almost all of which originated in China and were intended for shipment to different U.S. states. The FDA and CBP team found that many of these unauthorized e-cigarette shipments contained vague product descriptions with incorrect values in an attempt to evade duties and import safety reviews. Several brands of unauthorized e-cigarettes, including Snoopy Smoke, Raz, and others were identified among the shipments.
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H., asserted the FDA’s commitment to stopping the illegal importation and distribution of e-cigarette products in the U.S. He stated that seizures of illegal e-cigarettes prevent unauthorized products from entering the U.S. and reaching the nation’s youth.
The seizures are part of federal agencies’ coordinated compliance and enforcement actions aimed at curbing the distribution and sale of illegal e-cigarettes. Ahead of this operation, the joint FDA and CBP team identified potentially violative incoming shipments and completed other investigative work. The team also implemented several new internal efficiencies and procedures.
Bret Koplow, Ph.D., J.D., Acting Director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, stated that despite attempts to conceal the true identity of these unauthorized e-cigarette products, they have been successful at preventing these shipments from entering the U.S. supply chain.
The majority of the shipments violated the FDA’s Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), while some products were seized for Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) violations for unauthorized use of protected trademarks. All of the e-cigarette products seized lacked the mandatory premarket authorization orders from the FDA, making their marketing or distribution in the U.S. illegal.
Standard procedure for forfeited products includes their disposal in accordance with the law. Unauthorized new tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, are typically destroyed.
In a first, the FDA sent import informational letters to 24 tobacco importers and entry filers responsible for importing these illegal e-cigarettes. The letters inform the recipients that it is a federal crime to make false statements or entries to the U.S. government, and the FDA seeks information on the steps they have taken to ensure compliance with federal tobacco laws and regulations.
Previous FDA-CBP joint actions include the seizure of $18 million of illegal e-cigarettes at Los Angeles International Airport in 2023, seizure of $7 million of illegal e-cigarettes at a Miami warehouse, and operations in Chicago in June and October of 2024 resulting in the seizure of illegal e-cigarettes valued at more than $77 million.
The FDA has also issued over 750 warning letters to firms for manufacturing, selling, or distributing unauthorized new tobacco products. It has issued more than 800 warning letters to retailers for selling these products and filed civil money penalty complaints against 87 manufacturers and over 175 retailers for their distribution or sale.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.