The US Drug Enforcement Administration Seized Over 2.3 Million Illegal Electronic Cigarettes Within A Week And Arrested 106 People!

On September 22nd, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced the results of a one-week "E-cigarette Tracking" law enforcement operation. Since September 15th, 2025, the DEA has seized over 2.3 million e-cigarette devices and cartridges, as well as more than 100 weapons. This operation aims to eliminate illegal e-cigarettes containing dangerous substances from communities across the United States.
(Investigators inspect an e-cigarette store. Image source: DEA website)
DEA Director Terrence Cole said: "Illegal e-cigarette products pose risks - especially for young people, as they often don't know what chemicals they are inhaling. By removing these products from our communities, we are taking decisive action to safeguard health, combat criminal networks, and prevent problems before they occur."

The DEA stated that e-cigarettes were originally designed for nicotine and sold as a substitute for cigarettes. However, recent data indicates that a significant portion of e-cigarette sales involve illegal substances, highlighting growing public safety and health concerns. Illegal and addictive substances such as synthetic marijuana are also sold in e-cigarette stores. Many of these products feature bright packaging and patterns inspired by popular cereals, candies, and snacks to attract young people.
Overall, from September 15th to September 19th, 2025, 23 domestic branches and 7 overseas regions of the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted coordinated law enforcement operations. The results are as follows:
E-cigarette devices/vapor cartridges: 2,357,755 seized; Cash: $3,502,905; Seized assets: $5,235,000; Firearms: 115; Number of arrests: 106
Among the 4 key seized cases in this operation:
① The DEA's Laredo Regional Office, with the assistance of the Laredo Police Department, executed a search warrant on a store. Investigators found a 25-foot (about 7.6 meters) tunnel deep into the store, leading to a suspected hidden room behind it - indicating that the criminals have begun to take extreme measures to hide illegal activities. During the search, cocaine and marijuana were also seized.
(Investigators discovered a secret tunnel in an e-cigarette store. Source: DEA website)
② The缉毒局 Galveston field office, in collaboration with the US Marshals Service and the Harris County Second District Sheriff's Office, carried out an operation at a residence and seized 70,000 THC cartridges, 30,000 packets of THC food, 15 pounds of marijuana, and eleven firearms.
③ After receiving multiple complaints about e-cigarette stores selling to minors, the缉毒局 Little Rock regional office, in two independent investigations, seized nearly 200 pounds of marijuana and over 50 firearms, and arrested two individuals.

④The Albany regional office of the Drug Enforcement Administration seized hundreds of pounds of brightly colored packaged products, including marijuana flowers, marijuana cigarettes, packaged THC gummies, flavored THC e-cigarettes, and mushroom gummies. Two illegal criminals were arrested and $50,000 in cash was seized.