Overview

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported seizures worth $60.3 million in the first half of 2025, including nearly two million units seized in Chicago valued at $34 million
• The latest illicit vape products imported from China are disguised as everyday items such as backpacks, smartphone cases, highlighters and handheld gaming consoles to help teens vape undetected
• FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary has sent over 800 warning letters to retailers and announced stepped-up confiscations as part of a declared top-priority crackdown on unauthorized flavored vapes
• Only 39 e-cigarette products—limited to menthol or tobacco flavors—are authorized for legal sale in the U.S., leaving the vast majority of fruit- and candy-flavored devices illegal
• Public health authorities warn that many illicit vapes contain nicotine levels comparable to 35 packs of cigarettes and use social media–driven marketing to attract young users