Global trade data indicate that Chinese manufacturers have been drastically increasing the volume of illegal vapes imported to the United States in recent months. To counter this, U.S. authorities have intensified their enforcement efforts by raiding warehouses, cracking down on smoke shops, and blocking illicit shipments at ports.
Illegal vape shipments originating in China have risen steadily from a low point of 2.2 million kilograms of product in June of this year to nearly 15 million kilograms as of October, according to Chinese trade data. In concert with the uptick in Chinese exports, the Food and Drug Administration told the Washington Examiner that it undertook an “exponential” increase in import refusals of tobacco products during fiscal 2025.
The FDA said it refused over 9,000 shipments of tobacco products during fiscal 2025, up from roughly 1,600 in fiscal 2024 and just around 100 in fiscal 2023. Customs and Border Protection, which often conducts joint operations with the FDA to seize illicit shipments, previously shared some details with the Washington Examiner regarding how the agencies have improved their efficiency.
“Our most valuable asset is our officers,” a CBP spokesman told the Washington Examiner earlier this month. “Their knowledge and experience allow us to identify potential violative incoming shipments. Another resource CBP leverages to combat illicit products from entering the United States is the government and private vendor advanced targeting and analytical systems. CBP uses these decision support tools to compare cargo and conveyance information against law enforcement, intelligence, and other enforcement data using risk-based scenarios and assessments.”
Chinese-manufactured vapes and e-cigarettes have attracted the ire of law enforcement and activists owing to their popularity among minors, spurring concerns that they are contributing to nicotine addiction and other health complications, such as cancer and lung disease. Many Chinese vapes have been found to expose users to heavy metals such as lead and nickel.
Some illegal shipments inevitably evade authorities and end up in smoke shops, convenience stores, and online retailers nationwide. Authorities go to great lengths to track down and confiscate such goods.
A review of government press releases indicated that CBP, the FDA, and the Drug Enforcement Administration collectively seized at least 9.2 million illegal vapes between May and November, confiscating 7.2 million units in September alone. Federal authorities estimated that these devices were worth upward of $127 million.
The largest raid, a joint operation between the FDA and CBP, resulted in the seizure of 4.7 million illegal e-cigarettes, worth an estimated $86.5 million, by authorities. Manufacturers attempting to import the illicit vapes will often try to force packages through different ports after being refused entry initially, provide vague descriptions of their goods to evade authorities, and misreport data related to their shipments, according to an FDA press release.
Reporting from Reuters found that a vast network of “middlemen” operates within the U.S. to navigate the customs process on behalf of Chinese vape manufacturers. Such middlemen have been accused of lying to customs officers, or at least failing to conduct due diligence, thus facilitating the flow of illegal vapes into America. Illicit e-cigarettes often arrive disguised as innocuous items, such as shoes or toys, according to the FDA.
State authorities have also been on the front lines of the fight against illegal vapes. Law enforcement agencies in Virginia, Wisconsin, Florida, New York, Louisiana, and California have made dozens of arrests, seized large quantities of illegal vapes, and dolled out millions of dollars in fines. Large quantities of other illegal drugs were also seized during the operations.
While authorities have made considerable headway in enforcement, evidence suggests that there is a lot more work to do. The massive reporting gap in vape imports and exports between the U.S. and Chinese authorities, for instance, hints at widespread foul play.
Chinese trade authorities disclosed $2.2 billion in e-cigarette exports to the U.S. between January and August. Meanwhile, U.S. authorities logged just $75 million of Chinese vapes entering the country. While trade data specialists have noted that small discrepancies in data between countries are commonplace, a massive gap such as this could be caused by Chinese exporters misreporting their cargo at U.S. ports, resulting in it being logged as something else.
The FDA believes that 54% of vapes sold in the U.S. are illegal; some estimates place the figure as high as 70%.
Public polling indicates that Americans take the matter of illicit vapes seriously.
A Communities United for Smart Policy poll of 1,006 parents conducted between Nov. 28 and Dec. 2 and obtained exclusively by the Washington Examiner found that 70% of parents support stronger enforcement actions against illegal vapes. A further 73% of parents believe illegal vapes pose a threat to their community.
Indeed, many enforcement actions taken against illicit vape peddlers have turned up much more serious criminal infractions.
“Operation Vape Trail,” a nationwide sweep of smoke shops conducted by the DEA between Sept. 15 and Sept. 19, resulted in the seizure of 115 illegal firearms, a drug tunnel, and massive amounts of marijuana, in addition to 2.3 million illicit vape units.
A similar operation conducted by Virginia State Police in October resulted in the collection of marijuana, cocaine, psilocybin, and firearms in addition to roughly 2,000 illegal vapes. Meanwhile, various law enforcement agencies in North Carolina raided smoke shops through their “Operation Smoke and Mirrors.” They ended up with three arrests for heroin trafficking, illustrating how the sale of illegal vapes is often proximate to other, more grave crimes.
CHINESE VAPE IMPORTS SURGE DESPITE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S CRACKDOWN, DATA SUGGESTS
“Smoke shops tied to illegal Chinese vapes and drugs are becoming retail fronts for organized crime, and they’re targeting our kids,” a GOP strategist, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Washington Examiner. “President Trump is restoring law and order by seizing contraband at the border, raiding bad actors, and prosecuting the networks behind them. Republicans, Independents, and Democrats want these operations shut down, and the administration is right to continue turning up the heat until every community is safe.”
The Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act of 2026 directed the FDA to spend no less than $200 million on enforcement against illicit vapes, suggesting that law enforcement has the funding to continue its upward enforcement trend into the new year and beyond.
