US Agents Seize $86M in Illegal Vapes in Nationwide Crackdown
Federal agents have conducted a nationwide series of raids on vape retailers and distributors, seizing over 4.7 million unauthorized e-cigarettes valued at more than $86.5 million. The operation, announced by Attorney General Pam Bondi and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., represents a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal vaping products.
Speaking at a press conference outside Midwest Goods, a targeted distributor in Bensenville, Illinois, where $14 million worth of products were seized, Bondi warned non-compliant retailers, “If you have this stuff, get it off your shelves, because this is your final warning, we’re coming after you.” The multi-state operation, involving the Department of Justice (DOJ), FDA, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and U.S. Marshals Service, included seizures at five distributors and multiple retailers across North Carolina, Arizona, Illinois, New Jersey, Georgia, and Florida.
Officials emphasized that these illicit products, often featuring bright colors and sweet, kid-friendly flavors like “funnel cake” and “purple galaxy,” pose serious public health risks. They frequently contain staggering levels of nicotine, undisclosed metals, and untested chemicals that fail to meet FDA safety standards. Kennedy blamed the previous administration for slow-walking approvals of U.S.-based vapes, which allowed a flood of unauthorized products to enter the market. He noted that of 9,000 e-cigarette brands being sold in the country, only a tiny fraction have FDA approval.
To evade detection and tariffs, these products are often deceptively labeled as “toys” or “shoes” to bypass customs inspections. The DOJ has filed civil forfeiture complaints against 14 entities following undercover purchases by ATF agents. Bondi also stated that the Justice Department would not rule out bringing criminal charges where warranted.
The Vapor Technology Association criticized the actions as “an assault on American workers, small businesses, and the tax base,” while public health groups like Truth Initiative applauded the move as an important step in protecting youth. Midwest Goods said in a statement that it was cooperating with authorities and noted the seized products had been on the market for years without issue during a recent FDA inspection.
- Read more: New York Conducts Largest-Ever Crackdown on Illegal Vape Sales
- News source: US FDA, border agency seize US$86.5 million worth of unauthorised e-cigarettes
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