1.4M Illegal Vapes, Including Top-Selling Brands, Seized At LAX: Feds

LOS ANGELES, CA — Federal authorities on Thursday announced the recent seizure of 1.4 million unauthorized e-cigarettes at LAX. The nicotine vapes, valued at over $18 million, included the popular brand Elf Bar, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Customs and Border Protection.

Elf Bar vapes, with their fruity flavors, are the most commonly used brand among youth vapers, according to the 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey. However, the U.S. government considers the brightly colored vapes illegal: They're not on the FDA's list of e-cigarettes approved for sale.

The recent seizure at an LAX cargo facility was conducted over a three-day period. It came after months of investigation by authorities. In total, 41 shipments containing the Chinese e-cigarettes were seized and are expected to be destroyed, according to federal officials.

In addition to Elf Bar, other brands seized included EB Create, which Elf Bar's owner iMiracle created earlier this year after the FDA placed an import ban on some of its products.

It’s the first time authorities have publicly reported successfully blocking the company from getting its vapes into the U.S., according to agency records. The products have generated hundreds of millions of dollars in sales since late 2021. In May, the FDA instructed customs officials to begin seizing shipments from iMiracle and several other companies.

But the products remain widely available at conveniences stores and vape shops throughout the country, including in California, where the sale of flavored vapes has been illegal for the last year.

“Those shamelessly attempting to smuggle illegal e-cigarettes, particularly those that appeal to youth, into this country should take heed of today’s announcement,” Brian King, director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products said in a statement. “Federal agencies are on to their antics and will not hesitate to take action. The significant value of these seized products is also a sobering reminder to these bad actors that their time and money would be better spent complying with the law.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.