The US Department Of Justice And The FDA Jointly Announced: Over 2.1 Million Illegal Electronic Cigarettes Were Seized Across Seven States.

Recently, the US Department of Justice and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) jointly announced that during the recent law enforcement actions targeting unauthorized flavored e-cigarettes, more than 2.1 million illegal e-cigarette products were seized from five distributors and six retailers in seven states.
According to the seizure complaint and accompanying legal documents submitted to the federal district court, the government accused the distributors and retailers whose e-cigarettes were seized of having previously received warnings from the FDA, stating that their e-cigarette products must undergo pre-market approval to be legally sold. The complaint pointed out that the FDA's recent inspections and undercover visits by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents revealed that these enterprises were still selling or distributing unauthorized e-cigarette products.

This operation was jointly carried out by the US Marshals Service, ATF agents, and other law enforcement partners, and was supported by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the FDA.
US Attorney General Pamela Bondi said: "Most of these dangerous illegal e-cigarettes are smuggled from China and are sold around schools and military bases, directly endangering the health of teenagers and military groups. This has become a national security issue. The surprise raids this month are just the beginning. We will work closely with HHS to hold those involved in illegal sales criminally responsible."
The US Marshal Service Director Gadia Sertar Salata pointed out: "Through the joint operation, the Marshal Service confiscated and removed over 2.1 million unauthorized e-cigarette products from five warehouse distribution centers and six retail stores across the country. This operation demonstrates the determination of all law enforcement departments to protect teenagers and build a healthy America together."
The Department of Justice also filed civil lawsuits against the distributors and retailers of the seized products, prohibiting them from committing the same offense again. The complaint accused the defendants of continuing to sell adulterated and counterfeit e-cigarette products after receiving the FDA's illegal warning. The defendants included:
Tampa Vapor Company in Tampa, Florida, and its owner Michael Cinak
Progressive Retail Inc. (operated as Rainbow Food Mart) in Tampa, Florida, and its president Valon Jora
Bouslimi Holdings Inc. (operated as Marathon/Food Center) in Tampa, Florida, and its president Imed Boulimi
A Joint Effort Inc. (operated as Blvd Smoke Shop) in Miami, Florida, and its executive Hussein Bahur
Calle 8 Petroleum LLC (operated as UGAS/Circle K) in Miami, Florida, and its owner Rashid Said
Smoke House Sunset Company in Los Angeles, California, and its owner Ali Masood
D&A Distribution LLC (operated as Strictly E-Cig) in Savannah, Georgia, and its owner Robert Ali
PSM101 LLC (operated as Center Point Distributors) in Plainfield, New Jersey, and its owner Nirav Kumar Vora
B&G Trading LLC (operated as Vaportech Wholesale) in Phoenix, Arizona, and its co-owners Ataman Bilgin and Hasmet Gilgin
Midwest Goods Inc. (operated as Midwest Distribution and Midwest Distribution Illinois) in Bensonville, Illinois, and its owner and CEO Kamran Yasin DREAM Distro LLC in Garner, North Carolina and its owner Faisal Al Hadrami
In addition, a lawsuit for an injunction was filed against the New Jersey-based Gorilla Vapes LLC and its co-owners Nick Uliczak and Russell Uliczak.
According to US law, electronic cigarette manufacturers must undergo pre-market review for new tobacco products and obtain marketing authorization from the FDA before they can legally sell through interstate trade. In all seizure actions, search warrants were issued by the courts, authorizing the seizure of unapproved and marketing-unauthorized electronic cigarettes.