U.S. Agents Seize $18 Million Worth of Illegal E-Cigarettes Linked to Popular Teen Brand

Introduction

U.S. agents have recently made a significant seizure of illegal e-cigarettes at Los Angeles International Airport. The confiscated products, valued at $18 million, were manufactured by the Chinese company responsible for Elf Bar. This line of fruity disposable vapes has become extremely popular among American teenagers, making it the top brand in the market. In collaboration with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Customs and Border Protection successfully conducted this operation.

The Seized E-Cigarettes

The seized shipment included over 1.4 million illegal e-cigarettes, encompassing various related brands such as Lost Mary, Funky Republic, and EB Create. These e-cigarettes were intentionally mislabeled as toys, shoes, and other household items in an attempt to bypass customs scrutiny. The FDA records indicate that the shipment was intercepted on November 6th from iMiracle Shenzhen, the manufacturer behind Elf Bar and other disposable electronic cigarettes.

A Major Breakthrough

This action marks the first successful endeavor to prevent the company from introducing its vapes into the United States. Since late 2021, these products have accumulated hundreds of millions of dollars in sales nationwide. In response to this concerning trend, in May, the FDA instructed customs officials to seize shipments from iMiracle and several other companies involved in the production of illegal e-cigarettes.

Confiscated E-Cigarettes to be Destroyed

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that a significant number of illegal e-cigarettes, particularly those appealing to young individuals, will be destroyed. Brian King, the FDA's tobacco chief, stated that those attempting to smuggle these products into the country should take notice of this action.

Among the many brands of cheap disposable e-cigarettes flooding the U.S. market from China, Elf Bar stands out as one of the most prominent. Offering flavors like strawberry melon and triple berry ice, these e-cigarettes claim to contain up to 5,000 "puffs" per device. However, due to an import ban imposed by the FDA, iMiracle, the parent company of Elf Bar, has rebranded its products under different names, including EB Design.

Despite the import ban, these products continue to be readily available in convenience stores and vape shops across the country.

According to recent government data, Elf Bar is the preferred e-cigarette brand for 56% of teenage vapers, surpassing any other brand by a substantial margin.

A spokesperson for iMiracle was unavailable for comment at the time of this announcement.