On December 16, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that officials at the CBP Chicago office conducted 121 seizure operations over the past 12 months, confiscating over 3.2 million illegal e-cigarette products with a suggested retail value exceeding $81.5 million.
Almost all of these goods come from China and are destined for various locations in the United States. The majority of the goods are in violation of relevant regulations set by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, field director for the Chicago area office, stated, "Criminals often use celebrities and brands to promote their products. Some cases even involve the use of prominent public figures' names, especially targeting young people.
In addition to infringing on intellectual property rights, customs authorities also found that these products lack necessary FDA market authorization and have been identified as counterfeit and incorrectly labeled, thereby violating the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
Chicago Port Director Mike Pfeiffer stated that
Criminals are using various means to increase the influence of their illegal operations. Revenue from the sale of illicit goods is often used to support further criminal activities, such as drug trafficking, fraud, and the purchase of illegal weapons.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provides information on the admission and clearance of electronic commerce goods, encourages buyers to comply with import regulations, and has initiated an educational program to increase consumer awareness of the risks associated with counterfeit and pirated goods.
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