A report on the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official website reveals that on December 16, CBP officials announced the completion of 121 seizure operations by the Chicago office over the past year. These operations resulted in the confiscation of more than 3.2 million illegal e-cigarette products, with a suggested retail value exceeding $81.5 million.
The vast majority of these products originated in China and were intended for various locations throughout the United States. Most of these items were found to be in violation of regulations established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, Field Director for the Chicago office, commented, “Criminals frequently exploit celebrities and brands to market their products. Some instances have even involved the names of prominent public figures, particularly appealing to young audiences.”
In addition to breaches of intellectual property rights, customs officials discovered that these products lacked the necessary FDA market authorization and were counterfeit and mislabeled, thus violating the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
Mike Pfeiffer, Port Director for the Chicago area, noted, “Criminals employ various strategies to broaden the scope of their illegal operations. The profits from selling these illicit goods often fund further criminal activities, including drug trafficking, fraud, and the acquisition of illegal weapons.”
CBP offers guidance on e-commerce product entry and clearance, encourages compliance with import regulations, and has initiated educational programs to raise consumer awareness about the dangers of counterfeit and pirated goods.
