U.S. ramps enforcement against illicit Chinese vape imports
Federal agencies and local law enforcement have stepped up seizures and raids this month targeting unauthorized vaping products sourced from China. FDA and HHS announced multimillion‑unit confiscations — roughly 2 million units (~$33M retail) in an FDA action and 4.7 million units (~$86.5M retail) in an HHS operation — and federal agents executed a Chicago‑area warehouse raid reported earlier this month as part of a broader effort to disrupt trafficking networks and protect youth from toxic or counterfeit e‑cigarettes.
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📰 Sources (1)
Trump admin's crackdown on illicit Chinese vapes in US scores major wins: 'Emerging threat'
New information:
- FDA reported seizing almost 2,000,000 unauthorized e‑cigarette units with an estimated retail value of about $33 million.
- HHS announced a separate operation that uncovered 4.7 million imported vaping products valued at an estimated $86.5 million, with most shipments originating in China.
- Law enforcement described a recent Illinois/Chicago‑area federal raid and a reported seizure of '50 truckloads' from a Chicago‑area warehouse; South Florida HIDTA officials warn trafficking networks use counterfeit vapes as cash flow.