The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on its website on 22 October that it had worked with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to administratively seize approximately 3 million unapproved e-cigarette products with an estimated retail value of $76 million. Notably, GEEKBAR was the only e-cigarette brand mentioned in the report.
This seizure was part of a joint operation in July to inspect inbound shipments to prevent illegal e-cigarettes from entering the U.S. It is the largest enforcement action by the FDA to date.
The FDA and the US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced in June the creation of a joint federal task force to crack down on the illegal distribution and sale of e-cigarettes.
The FDA revealed that the joint team spent several months conducting extensive investigations in preparation for the operation. This included reviewing shipping invoices, identifying potentially illegal imports and gathering intelligence, all of which contributed to the success of the operation.
During inspections of goods arriving from China, the team uncovered numerous unauthorised e-cigarettes, including brands such as GEEKBAR. Many of these products were deliberately mis-declared as unrelated items and undervalued to avoid customs duties and detection. The seized products will now be processed in accordance with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations.
"The FDA is on high alert and coordinating closely with our federal partners to stop these products at the border. Many of these e-cigarettes end up in the hands of children, and the newly formed federal task force is committed to working together to combat this unethical behaviour," said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf.
Troy A. Miller, a senior official with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, reiterated the agency's commitment to protecting American consumers. "CBP places a high priority on intercepting illegal products that could cause harm. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and seize unsafe and illegal goods."
"This is not our first joint seizure operation, and it certainly won't be the last. We are committed to tracking down those who attempt to smuggle illegal e-cigarettes. The fact that these criminals essentially threw $76 million in the trash should remind them that their time and money would be better spent complying with the law," said Brian King, director of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products.
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