Illicit vapes flooded our borders. The Trump administration is fighting back
For too many Washington bureaucrats, American border security is reduced to a narrow, checklist exercise — counting crossings and manning checkpoints while ignoring the torrent of illicit goods and other poisons flooding our communities.
TL;DR
- 86.3% of e-cigarette sales in the U.S. are FDA-unauthorized and illegal products.
- Thousands of unauthorized vaping products have entered the U.S., largely originating from China and often tied to the Chinese Communist Party.
- These products bypass the required Pre-Market Tobacco Product Application (PMTA) process.
- Illicit goods are often mislabeled or hidden to evade Customs and Border Protection inspections.
- The Trump administration implemented a 'whole-of-government' strategy to address border security threats.
- Operation Red Mist confiscated over 18 million unauthorized e-cigarette units, valued at over $175 million.