Home
Company
Product
Regulation
China
Data
Exhibition
Interview
中文版
Home
Company
Product
Regulation
China
Data
Exhibition
Interview
中文版
Search

The U.S. Department of Justice and FDA seized 2.1 million e-cigarettes and 12 distributors and retailers were sued

Sep.30.2025
Recently, the U.S. Department of Justice and the FDA announced a joint crackdown on illegal e-cigarettes, seizing over 2.1 million unauthorized e-cigarette products from five distributors and six retailers in seven states. The companies involved had previously received warnings from the FDA but continued to sell products without market approval. This operation was jointly carried out by multiple government departments, and civil injunction lawsuits have been filed against 12 related companies an

Key points:

 

  • The US Department of Justice and FDA have conducted a joint operation, seizing 2.1 million illegal e-cigarette products across seven states. 
  • The seized e-cigarette products did not undergo FDA market review and some were found to have false labels. 
  • The Department of Justice has filed civil injunction lawsuits against the distributors and retailers involved to prevent the sale of illegal products in the future. 
  • The court has authorized the seizure of e-cigarette products that have not been approved by the FDA, ensuring that illegal products do not enter the market.

 

 

2Firsts, September 30, 2025 - According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice website, the Justice Department, together with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), announced today that recent actions targeting unauthorized flavored e-cigarettes, or vapes, resulted in the seizure of more than 2.1 million illicit vaping products taken from five distributors and six retailers across seven different states.

 

In detention complaints and related court documents filed in a US district court, the government alleges that these distributors and retailers received warnings from the FDA informing them that their e-cigarettes needed to obtain premarket approval before being legally sold.

 

According to the seizure complaint, recent inspections by the FDA and undercover purchases by agents from the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Bureau (ATF) show that these companies continue to sell or distribute unauthorized e-cigarette products. The seizure operation was carried out by the US Marshals Service, ATF agents, and other law enforcement partners, with support from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the FDA.

 

Attorney General Pamela Bondi has stated that this month's raid is just the beginning, and the DOJ will be working with HHS to prosecute all individuals involved in the illegal sale of these products.

 

The Department of Justice has filed civil injunction lawsuits against distributors and retailers of seized products in an effort to prevent future illegal activities. The complaints allege that the defendants continued to sell counterfeit and falsely labeled tobacco products even after receiving warnings from the FDA.

 

The injunction lawsuit targets the detained entities and individuals, including:

 

  • A company named Tampa Vapor and its owner, Michael R. Synychak, have filed a lawsuit in central Florida against an entity.

 

  • Progressive Retail Inc., operating under the name Rainbow Food Mart, is a company based in Tampa, Florida. Its president Varun Chawla has filed a lawsuit in the central district of Florida.

 

  • Bouslimi Holdings, Inc., operating under the name Marathon/Food Center, is a company based in Tampa, Florida. Its president, Imed Bouslimi, has filed a lawsuit in central Florida.

 

  • Joint Effort, Inc. is a company based in Miami, Florida, operating under the name Blvd Smoke Shop. The company's executive and director, Husam Bahhur, has filed a lawsuit in the southern district of Florida.

 

  • Calle 8 Petroleum LLC, operating under the name UGAS/Circle K, is a company based in Miami, Florida. Its owner, Rashid A. Saeed, has filed a lawsuit in the southern district of Florida.

 

  • Smoke House Sunset is a company located in Los Angeles, California. Its owner, Ali Masoud, has filed a lawsuit in the Central District of California.

 

  • D&A Distribution, LLC conducts business under the name Strictly E-Cig and is a company headquartered in Savannah, Georgia. The owner, Robert S. Ali, has filed a lawsuit in the southern district of Georgia.

 

  • PSM101, LLC conducts business under the name Center Point Distributors, with its headquarters located in South Plainfield, New Jersey. The owner is Niravkumar G. Vora, who has filed a lawsuit in the New Jersey area.

 

  • B&G Trading LLC, operating under the name Vaportech Wholesale, is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. The company is co-owned by Ataman Bilgin and Hasmet Girgin, who are involved in a lawsuit in the Arizona area.

 

  • Midwest Goods Inc. operates under the names Midwest Distribution and Midwest Distribution Illinois, with its headquarters located in Bensonville, Illinois. The owner and CEO of the company is Kamran Yasin, and the company has filed a lawsuit in the northern district of Illinois.

 

  • Dream Distro LLC, a company located in Garner, North Carolina, is facing a lawsuit from its owner Faisal A. Alhadrami in the Eastern District of North Carolina.

 

  • A lawsuit has been filed against Gorilla Vapes LLC, a company based in New Jersey, and its co-owners Nick Jurczyk and Russell Jurczyk in the state of New Jersey.

 

According to the law, e-cigarette manufacturers typically must obtain FDA market review and approval before selling their products. In each seizure action, the court has issued seizure orders authorizing the confiscation of e-cigarette products that have not been granted market authorization.

 

References:
[1] More Than Two Million Illicit Vaping Products Seized in Nationwide Sweep
Also Read:
[1] U.S. CBP and FDA Seize 165,000 Illicit E-Cigarette Products; Total Value Exceeds $1.47 Million

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

China Tobacco Regulation Shift：Policy Updates and Market Impact
China Tobacco Regulation Shift：Policy Updates and Market Impact
Ireland Raises Nicotine Product Taxes Again as Cigarettes Gain €1 and Vape Duty Is Set to Jump 40%
Ireland Raises Nicotine Product Taxes Again as Cigarettes Gain €1 and Vape Duty Is Set to Jump 40%
Ireland has increased tobacco excise under Budget 2027 and announced a further rise in its E-liquid Products Tax. From Oct. 7, the tax burden on a pack of 20 cigarettes in the most popular price category increased by €1, with pro-rata increases on other tobacco products. The government plans to raise EPT from €0.50 to €0.70 per millilitre from Jan. 1, 2027, a 40% increase applying to both nicotine-containing and nicotine-free e-liquids. The tobacco duty increase is expected to raise about €63.1 million in a full year.
Regulations
Oct.09
Special Report | Can Nicotine Be Replaced? 6-MN Is Already on the Market While Key Human Evidence Is Still Missing
Special Report | Can Nicotine Be Replaced? 6-MN Is Already on the Market While Key Human Evidence Is Still Missing
Nicotine analogues such as 6-methylnicotine are already appearing in e-cigarettes and oral pouches, even as key human evidence remains limited. A new Nixodine-S study adds nonclinical data showing differences from nicotine in cytotoxicity and receptor activity, while independent studies point to a more complex toxicological picture. With supply-chain activity growing and FDA seeking clearer authority over nicotine analogues, the industry now faces a larger question: what evidence is needed before these substances can credibly replace nicotine?
SCIENCE
Sep.23
German Bundestag Passes Tobacco Tax Hikes: Vape Liquid Duty to Reach €0.44/ml, Heated Tobacco Taxes to Rise and Cigarettes Seen Near €12 a Pack
German Bundestag Passes Tobacco Tax Hikes: Vape Liquid Duty to Reach €0.44/ml, Heated Tobacco Taxes to Rise and Cigarettes Seen Near €12 a Pack
Germany's Bundestag passed amendments to the Tobacco Tax Act on October 15, 2026, setting out annual excise tax increases from 2027 through 2030 for e-cigarette liquids, heated tobacco, cigarettes and other tobacco products. Under the Finance Committee's amended bill, duty on qualifying e-liquids will rise from €0.32/ml in 2026 to €0.44/ml in 2030, an increase of 37.5%. Heated tobacco will retain its tax calculation based on 80% of the corresponding cigarette excise duty. The average price of a 20-cigarette pack is projected to approach €12 by 2030, with some brands potentially reaching €14. The legislation is projected to generate approximately €11.8 billion in additional tax revenue over four years and remains subject to further legislative procedures.
Regulations
Oct.19
U.S. Military Could Test Nicotine Pouches and Vapes for Smoking Cessation as Washington Examiner Cites ZYN and Potential $4 Billion Reduction in Related Defense Costs
U.S. Military Could Test Nicotine Pouches and Vapes for Smoking Cessation as Washington Examiner Cites ZYN and Potential $4 Billion Reduction in Related Defense Costs
The House-passed FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act includes a provision authorizing the defense secretary to conduct a one-year smoking-cessation pilot for active-duty service members. Section 707 lists counseling, nicotine gum and patches alongside what the bill calls "electric nicotine delivery systems," nicotine pouches and heat-not-burn products. A recent Washington Examiner op-ed cited ZYN as an example in arguing for the provision, but the legislation does not name any commercial brand or supplier. ZYN is made by PMI-owned Swedish Match USA, with specified products holding FDA marketing authorizations and modified risk orders.
Sep.20
Global Nicotine-Pouch E-Commerce Group Haypp Shuts Sweden’s Snusnetto Over Age Verification as Identity Checks Become Industry Infrastructure for New Nicotine Products
Global Nicotine-Pouch E-Commerce Group Haypp Shuts Sweden’s Snusnetto Over Age Verification as Identity Checks Become Industry Infrastructure for New Nicotine Products
Sweden's Supreme Administrative Court has declined to hear an appeal over age verification for tobacco and nicotine products collected from parcel lockers, leaving in place a lower-court ruling that geo-located BankID verification is insufficient to securely verify the actual recipient. Haypp Group has stopped tobacco and nicotine sales through Snusnetto and is deploying a new system across its other Swedish e-commerce sites to verify the age of the person who actually opens the locker and receives the shipment. The change comes as age verification across next-generation nicotine products expands from purchase checks into retail, delivery and, for some e-cigarettes, device access itself.
Regulations
Oct.20
Special Report | How Capital Is Reassessing the Global Tobacco and Modern Nicotine Industry: Lessons from a New York Forum
Special Report | How Capital Is Reassessing the Global Tobacco and Modern Nicotine Industry: Lessons from a New York Forum
Capital is reassessing the global tobacco and modern nicotine industry as heated tobacco, vaping and nicotine pouches reshape demand, profitability and regulation. At the 2026 New Approaches Summit in New York, investors and analysts examined whether smoke-free growth can sustain earnings, how regulation shapes startup value, and whether shareholder engagement can be more effective than divestment. The debate points to a broader shift: tobacco transition is increasingly becoming a capital-allocation, governance and valuation question.
Capital Markets
Oct.05
Related Topics
HEADLINE News Regulation
Related Read
Ireland Raises Nicotine Product Taxes Again as Cigarettes Gain €1 and Vape Duty Is Set to Jump 40%
Ireland Raises Nicotine Product Taxes Again as Cigarettes Gain €1 and Vape Duty Is Set to Jump 40%
Special Report | Can Nicotine Be Replaced? 6-MN Is Already on the Market While Key Human Evidence Is Still Missing
Special Report | Can Nicotine Be Replaced? 6-MN Is Already on the Market While Key Human Evidence Is Still Missing
German Bundestag Passes Tobacco Tax Hikes: Vape Liquid Duty to Reach €0.44/ml, Heated Tobacco Taxes to Rise and Cigarettes Seen Near €12 a Pack
German Bundestag Passes Tobacco Tax Hikes: Vape Liquid Duty to Reach €0.44/ml, Heated Tobacco Taxes to Rise and Cigarettes Seen Near €12 a Pack
U.S. Military Could Test Nicotine Pouches and Vapes for Smoking Cessation as Washington Examiner Cites ZYN and Potential $4 Billion Reduction in Related Defense Costs
U.S. Military Could Test Nicotine Pouches and Vapes for Smoking Cessation as Washington Examiner Cites ZYN and Potential $4 Billion Reduction in Related Defense Costs
Global Nicotine-Pouch E-Commerce Group Haypp Shuts Sweden’s Snusnetto Over Age Verification as Identity Checks Become Industry Infrastructure for New Nicotine Products
Global Nicotine-Pouch E-Commerce Group Haypp Shuts Sweden’s Snusnetto Over Age Verification as Identity Checks Become Industry Infrastructure for New Nicotine Products
Special Report | How Capital Is Reassessing the Global Tobacco and Modern Nicotine Industry: Lessons from a New York Forum
Special Report | How Capital Is Reassessing the Global Tobacco and Modern Nicotine Industry: Lessons from a New York Forum
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Contact: info@2firsts.com
Stay up to date.
Submit your email to receive weekly newsletter on the most relevant news of the e-cigarette industry.
© 2026 2FIRSTS. All Right Reserved.
2FIRSTS is only accessible to industry practitioners, researchers, media and other professionals. Access by minors is prohibited.
This website provides services to users outside the Chinese mainland.
English
English
中文