Strict Inspection at Chicago Port: Hundreds of Tons of Seized E-cigarettes

Regulations by 2FIRSTS
Dec.19.2023
Strict Inspection at Chicago Port: Hundreds of Tons of Seized E-cigarettes
Chicago port intensifies inspections on e-cigarette shipments, confiscates hundreds of tons of products, targeting FDA blacklisted companies.

On December 19th, a reliable source within the e-cigarette logistics industry informed 2FIRSTS that the port of Chicago in the United States is currently conducting strict inspections on e-cigarette freight agents. So far, they have confiscated hundreds of tons of e-cigarettes.

 

According to a knowledgeable source, the inspection operation began on December 15th and is currently ongoing, with multiple e-cigarette freight forwarding companies reportedly being inspected.

 

2FIRSTS subsequently consulted a logistics provider engaged in the transportation of American e-cigarette shipments, who confirmed the situation and stated, "All companies listed in the FDA import alert have fallen victim to it.

 

According to reports, the import alert list, which includes several Chinese e-cigarette brands, was released by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 17.

 

Furthermore, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on December 15th that it had collaborated with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to seize approximately 1.4 million unauthorized e-cigarette products at the Los Angeles port. These products have a total value exceeding $18 million. 

 

Regarding the Port of Chicago:

 

Prior to this, 2FIRSTS compiled and analyzed the import ratios of e-cigarettes in the top five ports in the United States, based on data released by the US International Trade Commission.

 

According to statistics, Chicago serves as the largest hub for e-cigarettes in the United States, with more than 50% of these products entering the country through this city. They then radiate to the entire Great Lakes region, supplying the markets in the eastern and central parts of the United States.

 

美国国际贸易委员会:2022年白关进口电子烟约4亿支 芝加哥为最大口岸
The proportion of e-cigarette imports in various states of the United States in 2022 | Source: Mincy 

 

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

ZYN Rolls Out “X-Low” Campaign in the UK to Target Low-Strength Nicotine Pouch Market
ZYN Rolls Out “X-Low” Campaign in the UK to Target Low-Strength Nicotine Pouch Market
Philip Morris International’s (PMI) nicotine pouch brand ZYN has launched an “X-Low” low-strength campaign in the UK, accelerating its push into the ultra-low nicotine pouch segment, with updated packaging and new flavours already rolled out in both the UK and the Philippines.
Dec.09 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Alan Zhao: What Altria’s on! PLUS Authorization Really Signals About FDA PMTA Enforcement
Alan Zhao: What Altria’s on! PLUS Authorization Really Signals About FDA PMTA Enforcement
In this in-depth commentary for 2Firsts, Alan Zhao examines what Altria’s on! PLUS authorization really signals about FDA PMTA enforcement. Beyond the headline approval, FDA’s language, process design and product choices offer rare insight into how nicotine pouch regulation is taking shape—and what it means for industry compliance, in one of the earliest expert reads of the decision.
Regulations
Dec.20 by 2Firsts Perspectives
KT&G says lil reached about US$2.924 billion in cumulative sales and is expanding overseas
KT&G says lil reached about US$2.924 billion in cumulative sales and is expanding overseas
KT&G said its HNB brand lil has grown since launch, reporting KRW 7.8 billion (about US$5.304 million) in sales in 2017 and about KRW 4.3 trillion (about US$2.924 billion) in cumulative sales by last year’s third quarter, with KRW 5 trillion (about US$3.400 billion) described as within reach. KT&G said lil has entered more than 30 countries and supplies some products abroad via a partnership with PMI.
Jan.13 by 2FIRSTS.ai
2Firsts Outlines 2026 Global Product Trends in the New Tobacco Industry
2Firsts Outlines 2026 Global Product Trends in the New Tobacco Industry
As regulation tightens and innovation matures, competition in the new tobacco industry is shifting. In its 2026 Global Product Trends in the New Tobacco Industry report, 2Firsts examines how heated tobacco, nicotine pouches, and vape products are moving beyond feature-driven upgrades toward system-level design, where experience management, compliance structure, and engineering capability increasingly shape long-term competition.
Jan.13 by 2Firsts Perspectives
AIRSCREAM Unlocks Pan-European Nicotine Pouch Market for B2B Partners with Full-Service EU OEM Solutions
AIRSCREAM Unlocks Pan-European Nicotine Pouch Market for B2B Partners with Full-Service EU OEM Solutions
Showcased at PouchEx Stockholm, AIRSCREAM’s end-to-end OEM ecosystem demonstrates how brands can enter the fast-growing European nicotine pouch market with greater speed, confidence, and regulatory readiness.
Dec.04
Russian's Stavropol court convicts four men over illegal sales of disposable vapes
Russian's Stavropol court convicts four men over illegal sales of disposable vapes
A court in Russia’s Stavropol region convicted four local residents of illegal sales of disposable vapes, with the seized products valued at more than 26 million rubles (about $338,000). The regional prosecutor’s office said the organized group operated from March 2022 to June 2023, selling disposable electronic vapes in Stavropol, Nevinnomyssk and Mikhaylovsk, while the products lacked mandatory information required by law.
Dec.31 by 2FIRSTS.ai