Los Angeles Cracks Down on Illicit Flavored Vapes and Counterfeit Goods: 12 Businesses Searched, 24 Arrested, Eight Truckloads Seized

Enforcement
Oct.28
Los Angeles Cracks Down on Illicit Flavored Vapes and Counterfeit Goods: 12 Businesses Searched, 24 Arrested, Eight Truckloads Seized
Los Angeles authorities searched 12 businesses and arrested 24 people during a multi-agency operation targeting illicit flavored vaping products, flavored cigarettes and counterfeit merchandise on October 22, 2026. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said approximately eight tractor-trailer loads of merchandise were seized. Alleged violations involved flavored tobacco sales restrictions, tobacco licensing requirements and counterfeit trademark laws. Local, state and federal agencies participated. Authorities have not disclosed the number, brands or value of vaping products seized. Investigations remain ongoing.

核心概要

  • 12处商户遭搜查: 2026年10月22日,执法部门在洛杉矶市中心玩具区(Toy District)一带开展联合搜查,重点调查涉嫌销售非法调味电子烟、调味卷烟及假冒商品的经营场所。
  • 24人被捕: 涉嫌违法行为涉及洛杉矶市调味烟草销售禁令、加州烟草经营许可规定及假冒注册商标商品相关法律。
  • 约8车货物被扣押: 警方称,扣押货物规模约相当于8辆半挂卡车载量,未披露电子烟单独数量、具体品牌及货值。
  • 多部门联合执法: 洛杉矶警方、加州司法部、加州税务及公共卫生部门、美国海关与边境保护局,以及地方检察机关共同参与。

2Firsts

2026年10月27日

据美国洛杉矶县警长局(Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department,LASD)10月26日发布的公告,执法部门于10月22日在洛杉矶市中心开展针对非法调味电子烟、调味烟草及假冒商品的联合执法行动,对12处商业场所执行搜查令,逮捕24人,并扣押约8辆半挂卡车载量的货物。

搜查12处商业场所,扣押约8车货物

此次行动发生在洛杉矶市中心玩具区(Toy District)一带,执法范围位于第三街(3rd Street)至温斯顿街(Winston Street)、克罗克街(Crocker Street)至洛杉矶街(Los Angeles Street)之间的商业区域。

警方表示,12处被搜查的商业场所涉嫌销售非法调味电子烟产品、调味卷烟及假冒商品。执法人员在行动中扣押了约8辆半挂卡车载量的货物,作为案件证据。

警方尚未公布扣押货物的具体数量、总价值及产品清单,也未说明电子烟、烟草产品与其他商品分别占据多少比例。

此次行动有多个地方、州及联邦机构参与,包括洛杉矶警察局(Los Angeles Police Department,LAPD)、加州司法部(California Department of Justice,DOJ)、加州税务及费用管理局(California Department of Tax and Fee Administration,CDTFA)、加州公共卫生部食品与药品分支机构(California Department of Public Health Food and Drug Branch)、美国海关与边境保护局(U.S. Customs and Border Protection,CBP),以及洛杉矶县地方检察官办公室和洛杉矶市检察官办公室。

24人被捕,涉嫌违反调味烟草销售及经营许可规定

洛杉矶县警长局称,此次行动共逮捕24人,涉及的涉嫌违法行为包括:

违反调味烟草销售禁令: 涉嫌违反《洛杉矶市政法典》第46.90.1条(Los Angeles Municipal Code §46.90.1),涉及禁止销售调味烟草产品的规定。

未持有效许可证销售烟草产品: 涉嫌违反《加州商业与职业法典》第22980.2条(California Business and Professions Code §22980.2),涉及未持有效许可证销售或赠送卷烟及烟草产品。

涉及假冒注册商标商品: 涉嫌违反《加州刑法典》第350(a)(1)条(California Penal Code §350(a)(1)),涉及假冒注册商标商品的制造、销售或持有待售行为。

警方公布了24名被捕人员的身份信息,但未逐一说明其对应的具体涉嫌违法行为,也未披露涉案商户名称。

洛杉矶县警长局社区合作局(Community Partnerships Bureau)警监Tenaya Brown表示,此次行动体现了该部门持续打击非法烟草产品、调味电子烟及假冒商品销售和分销活动的承诺。

警方表示,相关案件将视具体情况提交洛杉矶县地方检察官办公室或洛杉矶市检察官办公室,供检方考虑是否提出指控。目前调查仍在进行,涉及多个案件及嫌疑人。

洛杉矶及加州持续实施调味烟草销售限制

洛杉矶市自2023年1月1日起实施调味烟草产品零售销售禁令,涵盖调味电子烟等产品。加州也已实施全州范围的调味烟草产品零售销售限制,并对部分产品设有法定例外。

加州随后通过AB 3218法案进一步强化烟草产品监管。该法案于2025年1月1日生效,建立无调味烟草产品清单(Unflavored Tobacco List,UTL)制度。加州司法部于2025年12月31日公布首版清单,对相关烟草产品的销售实施清单管理,限制涉及零售商、批发商及分销商等经营主体。

此次洛杉矶执法行动涉及调味烟草销售、烟草经营许可及假冒商标商品等涉嫌违法行为。警方尚未披露被扣押电子烟的品牌、型号及具体监管状态,也未将违反UTL规定列为此次行动公布的违法依据。

关注2Firsts,及时了解全球烟草与尼古丁行业监管政策、市场变化及产业趋势。

封面图源:Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

Kumulus Vape2026 H1 Revenue Falls 8.3% but Profit Rises 24% as B2B Weakens and Consumer Channels Grow
Kumulus Vape2026 H1 Revenue Falls 8.3% but Profit Rises 24% as B2B Weakens and Consumer Channels Grow
French vaping company Kumulus Vape reported first-half 2026 revenue of €25.5 million, down 8.3% year over year, as its core B2B distribution business fell 11% to €21.6 million. B2C and store-network revenue rose 5.6% and 17.8%, respectively. Commercial margin increased to 26.3% from 21.7%, while net profit rose 24.1% to €0.8 million. The company attributed the profitability improvement to catalog optimization, logistics restructuring and the ramp-up of Labster, its in-house production unit for proprietary brands.
Market
Sep.17 by 2Firsts Perspectives
Couche-Tard Posts Double-Digit U.S. Same-Store Growth in Other Nicotine Products, Led by Pouches
Couche-Tard Posts Double-Digit U.S. Same-Store Growth in Other Nicotine Products, Led by Pouches
Alimentation Couche-Tard said U.S. same-store sales in its “other nicotine products” category grew at a double-digit rate in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, led by nicotine pouches, while overall U.S. same-store merchandise revenues increased 1.7%. The company also said its Canadian nicotine business continued to face regulatory pressure and illicit-market headwinds. The U.S. performance coincides with Couche-Tard's participation in efforts to reopen Canadian convenience-store access to authorized nicotine pouches, though the company has not established a direct causal link between the two.
Sep.14
Germany's Four-Year Tobacco Tax Plan Heads to Parliament as BAT, JTI and PMI Push for Changes
Germany's Four-Year Tobacco Tax Plan Heads to Parliament as BAT, JTI and PMI Push for Changes
Germany's parliament is scheduled to hold a first reading of amendments to the Tobacco Tax Act on September 24. The government plans annual tax increases from 2027 through 2030 covering cigarettes, heated tobacco, vaping liquids and other categories. It expects the reform to generate €756 million in additional revenue in 2027, rising to €3.589 billion in additional annual revenue by 2030. Ahead of the parliamentary debate, the German Association of the Tobacco Industry and Novel Products, or BVTE, launched the "Tabaksteuer mit Augenmaß" campaign backed by BAT, JTI, Philip Morris, Reemtsma and wholesale and retail groups.
Sep.23
JTI’s Nordic Spirit Signs Co-op Live Partnership Ahead of New UK Nicotine Sponsorship Restrictions
JTI’s Nordic Spirit Signs Co-op Live Partnership Ahead of New UK Nicotine Sponsorship Restrictions
JTI nicotine pouch brand Nordic Spirit has entered a long-term partnership with Manchester’s Co-op Live, becoming the venue’s Official Nicotine Pouch Partner. The 23,500-capacity venue is the UK’s largest indoor live entertainment arena. Nordic Spirit will run in-venue activations for existing adult nicotine consumers and sell products at selected arena bars. The agreement was entered into before the relevant UK sponsorship restrictions were introduced, while the government intends to implement a comprehensive ban on advertising and sponsorship of vaping and nicotine products from June 1, 2027.
Sep.07
Pennsylvania Lists 163 Vape Products Eligible for Sale, Including Vuse and JUUL; Previously Pending Chinese Brands Such as OXBAR Remain Absent, While Unlisted Products Including Geek Bar Face Enforcement From October 19
Pennsylvania Lists 163 Vape Products Eligible for Sale, Including Vuse and JUUL; Previously Pending Chinese Brands Such as OXBAR Remain Absent, While Unlisted Products Including Geek Bar Face Enforcement From October 19
Pennsylvania begins enforcing its electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) directory restrictions on October 19, 2026. The October 18 directory contained 163 product records from seven manufacturers, including Vuse, JUUL, NJOY, Logic and Naked 100. Geek Bar, RAZ and Lost Mary were absent. BAT, Altria, Japan Tobacco and JUUL collectively accounted for 112 records, or 68.7%, while Imperial Brands' blu had no listings. The directory included 15 disposable vape records, 40 bottled e-liquids and 10 products labeled 0mg, but no open-system refillable devices. Twenty-two manufacturer certifications remained under review. Four Logic models corresponding to Smoore's pending records were listed under the brand owner, while LYCO, OXBAR and Boulder/Rock had no approved directory entries.
Regulations
Oct.19
Juul Sublicense Reshapes Vuse Alto Patent Bill as Court Ends R.J. Reynolds’ 5.25% Royalty Obligation to Altria
Juul Sublicense Reshapes Vuse Alto Patent Bill as Court Ends R.J. Reynolds’ 5.25% Royalty Obligation to Altria
According to Law360 on August 31, 2026, a federal judge in North Carolina ruled that a patent sublicense between R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. and Juul Labs Inc. relieves Reynolds of its obligation to continue paying royalties to Altria Client Services LLC over Vuse Alto. A jury had previously found that Vuse Alto infringed three Altria patents and awarded approximately $95.2 million in past damages, after which Reynolds was ordered to pay an ongoing royalty equal to 5.25% of positive net sales. The new ruling finds that a valid sublicense can eliminate future infringement, potentially ending what Altria described as hundreds of millions of dollars in future royalties.
Sep.01