The Food and Drug Administration, in collaboration with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), seized about three million units of unauthorized e-cigarette products, with an estimated retail value of $76 million.
The products included various brands of illegal e-cigarettes, including Geek Bar.
The seizures were part of a July joint operation, which examined incoming shipments and prevention of illegal e-cigarettes from entering the country.
“The FDA is on high alert and, in coordination with our federal partners, remains committed to stopping unauthorized e-cigarettes at our nation’s borders,” said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf. “These products too often end up in kids’ hands, and the newly formed federal task force is well positioned to collectively combat this unscrupulous activity.”
In June, the FDA and the Department of Justice created a federal multi-agency task force to combat the illegal distribution and sale of e-cigarettes.
“CBP’s trade enforcement mission places a significant emphasis on intercepting illicit products that could harm American consumers,” said Troy A. Miller, senior official performing the duties of the commissioner for CBP. “We will continue to work with our enforcement partners to identify and seize unsafe and unlawful goods.”
The FDA said the joint team worked for several months to review shipping invoices, identify potentially violative incoming shipments and complete other investigative work.
Most of these unauthorized e-cigarettes were intentionally mis-declared as items with no connection to vaping products and with incorrect values, the agency said.
All shipments originated in China and the merchandise will be forfeited to the government and disposed, according to the FDA.
“This isn’t the first joint seizure operation, and it won’t be the last—we will continue to relentlessly pursue those attempting to smuggle illegal e-cigarettes,” said Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) Director Brian King. “The $76 million these bad actors just put in the dumpster should be a sobering reminder that their time and money would be better spent complying with the law.”
The FDA said the joint federal task force will continue to focus on actions to stop the illegal importation and distribution of unauthorized e-cigarette products in the United States.
“This may include investigating and prosecuting new criminal, civil, seizure and forfeiture actions under the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act; the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act; and other authorities,” the agency said.
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