CBP Seizes Over 50,000 of IPLAY E-Cigarettes in Chicago Raid

Regulations by 2FIRSTS.ai
Jun.26.2024
CBP Seizes Over 50,000 of IPLAY E-Cigarettes in Chicago Raid
U.S. Customs and Border Protection seize 53,700 IPLAY e-cigarettes in Chicago, valued over $1 million, violating FDA regulations.

According to ABC 7 Chicago's report on June 26, the US Customs and Border Protection Agency seized tens of thousands of e-cigarettes in Chicago, involving the e-cigarette brand IPLAY.

 

CBP Seizes Over 50,000 of IPLAY E-Cigarettes in Chicago Raid
CBP seized 53,700 e-cigarette products  | Source: ABC 7 Chicago

 

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that enforcement officers seized 53,700 e-cigarette products, referred to as Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) by CBP, for violating the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of the FDA.

 

CBP Seizes Over 50,000 of IPLAY E-Cigarettes in Chicago Raid
CBP seized 53,700 e-cigarette products | Image Source: ABC 7 Chicago

 

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stated that these 179 mislabeled crates were shipped from China to Mississippi, with a retail value exceeding $1.08 million. The crates were labeled as "electronic vaporizers," a common method used to smuggle unauthorized goods into the United States.

 

The director of the Chicago Business Bureau, LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, stated that

 

Our officials are committed to identifying and intercepting goods that may pose potential harm to the health and well-being of individuals within our community.

 

According to Alibaba Cloud Trademark and Tianyancha, the applicant of the tobacco and smoking products trademark for IPLAY in Class 34 is Cool Play Era (Shenzhen) Technology Co., Ltd., which was established in 2019 and is located in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. The 2FIRSTS Certification Enterprise Inquiry System shows that the company is a domestically certified brand enterprise mainly engaged in export business.

 

CBP Seizes Over 50,000 of IPLAY E-Cigarettes in Chicago Raid
IPLAY Trademark Details | Image Source: Alibaba Cloud trademark

 

CBP Seizes Over 50,000 of IPLAY E-Cigarettes in Chicago Raid
Kugou Times (Shenzhen) Technology Co., Ltd. | Image source: Tianyancha

 

 

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

Philippine Customs Seizes $2.22 Million in Misdeclared Vape Products From China
Philippine Customs Seizes $2.22 Million in Misdeclared Vape Products From China
The Philippine Bureau of Customs said it intercepted nine containers of misdeclared vape and vape-related products from China at the Manila International Container Port, with an estimated value of about ₱137 millionor, about $2.22 million.
Jul.10
2Firsts Hosts U.S. Market Mid-Year Briefing: Companies Need to Reassess Product and Market-Access Strategies
2Firsts Hosts U.S. Market Mid-Year Briefing: Companies Need to Reassess Product and Market-Access Strategies
2Firsts held its 2026 U.S. Market Compliance and Development Mid-Year Briefing in Shenzhen, China, on July 28. The discussion examined how state-level requirements, proposed foreign-establishment registration rules and expanding supply-chain responsibilities are changing product and investment decisions in the U.S. tobacco and nicotine market.
Jul.29
Australia-China Operation Dismantles Tobacco Smuggling Network: 112 Containers, 60 Arrests and A$92 Million in Illicit Tobacco
Australia-China Operation Dismantles Tobacco Smuggling Network: 112 Containers, 60 Arrests and A$92 Million in Illicit Tobacco
According to The Maritime Executive on August 19, 2026, the Australian Border Force (ABF) and China’s Anti-Smuggling Bureau of General Administration of China Customs worked together to dismantle an international illicit tobacco smuggling network targeting Australia. According to information released by ABF on August 20, sustained information sharing and cooperation led to investigations into 112 shipping containers, with 91 found to contain illicit tobacco. Authorities seized more than 60 million cigarettes and 60 kilograms of loose-leaf tobacco, representing more than A$92 million in unpaid duties. More than 60 people suspected of involvement in the network were arrested in China.
Aug.20
FDA Sued Over Allowing Some Unauthorized Vapes and Nicotine Pouches to Stay on Market
FDA Sued Over Allowing Some Unauthorized Vapes and Nicotine Pouches to Stay on Market
Public health groups, pediatricians and parents sued the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on July 14, 2026, challenging a May enforcement guidance that they say allows unauthorized e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches to remain on the market while applications are under review.
Jul.15
ATF Cancels Webloc Contract, Raising Questions Over Commercial Location Data in Enforcement
ATF Cancels Webloc Contract, Raising Questions Over Commercial Location Data in Enforcement
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has stopped using Webloc, a commercial phone-tracking tool, after lawmakers, a prosecutor and a judge raised legal and privacy concerns over warrantless use of ad-tech location data, a development that may affect data-use boundaries in U.S. enforcement against illicit tobacco, nicotine products and cross-border distribution networks.
Jun.29
BAT’s Velo Study Finds 61% of Nicotine Users Feel More Comfortable Expressing Themselves When Others Do the Same
BAT’s Velo Study Finds 61% of Nicotine Users Feel More Comfortable Expressing Themselves When Others Do the Same
British American Tobacco’s (BAT) nicotine pouch brand Velo has released a global consumer study and launched its “Echoes of Tomorrowland” campaign with electronic music festival brand Tomorrowland. The research surveyed 2,009 nicotine users across the UK, Spain, Pakistan, Poland and Austria. Velo said 61% of respondents feel more comfortable expressing themselves when they see others doing the same, while 39% said building meaningful connections becomes harder with age. The campaign reflects how nicotine pouch brands are increasingly using music, communities and lifestyle marketing to build consumer engagement.
Aug.10