CBP seizes illegal e-cigarette shipments worth over $175 million

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CBP seizes illegal e-cigarettes

Highlights

U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized illegal e-cigarette shipments valued over $175 million during Operation Red Mist targeting illicit vape imports in maritime cargo.
All seized e-cigarette products lack FDA premarket authorization, while only 41 FDA-authorized products are currently allowed for U.S. marketing and distribution.
CBP's action disrupts illicit supply chains and supports public health, while aiming to protect legitimate U.S. commerce and address criminal risks related to counterfeit imports.

Maritime cargo crackdown expands vape enforcement

As reported by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the agency, working with the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, seizes the products as part of Operation Red Mist, a targeted initiative focused on illicit vape imports. The operation centers on maritime cargo shipments and is aimed at disrupting the importation, transportation and distribution of unauthorized e-cigarettes and related hazardous components.

CBP says it identifies illegal vaping products through intelligence, shipment targeting and interagency coordination across the supply chain. Enforcement covers stages before export, inspections at ports of entry and post-seizure investigations.

During the operation, teams find hazardous materials that are misclassified and improperly labeled, tactics commonly used to avoid detection, taxes and duties. The shipments also fail to meet U.S. import requirements for tobacco products and electronic devices, while violating transport safety and environmental protection standards.

Health and market implications for the U.S.

All e-cigarette products seized in Operation Red Mist lack FDA premarket authorization, which makes them illegal to sell in the U.S. CBP says only 41 FDA-authorized products are currently permitted for U.S. marketing and distribution.

Executive Assistant Commissioner Diane J. Sabatino of CBP’s Office of Field Operations says the spread of illegal e-cigarettes is alarming for communities and that frontline personnel are working to keep the products away from consumers, particularly young people. The agency says the enforcement push is part of a wider government effort to block unsafe devices from reaching retailers and communities.

CBP adds that its trade enforcement role supports public health and safety while also addressing broader criminal risks tied to counterfeit and noncompliant imports. The agency enforces more than 400 laws on behalf of over 40 federal agencies, linking illicit goods enforcement to wider efforts to protect legitimate U.S. commerce.

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