Illegal Chinese vapes flood US market, feed youth vaping epidemic

This fall, we saw the biggest bust of illegal e-cigarettes in U.S. history, worth $90 million. It’s a bold move to crack down on an industry regulators say is rooted in organized crime and considered a threat to national security. FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary said this pipeline of illegal Chinese products is now a top priority for his agency. Vaping products are a booming market - flooding American neighborhoods and funding foreign enemies. For years, we’ve documented the warnings. “The Chinese government is not a friend to the United States,” said Jim Carroll, former director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. “Let there be no mistake. They know exactly what they’re doing. They’re wiping out an entire generation.” From administration officials to senior members of law enforcement, the chorus was the same. “We have a problem in this country and the beneficiaries and the benefactors of this is Chinese organized crime,” said Rich Marianos, former Deputy Director of ATF. Even on Capitol Hill, leading lawmakers were literally shouting for action. At a 2024 hearing, Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois grilled the former Director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, Brian King. “Do something! What the hell are you waiting for?” said Durbin in a June 2024 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to question the FDA and Department of Justice about their failure to act on youth e-cigarette use and the sale of unauthorized vaping products. READ MORE: https://13wham.com/news/spotlight-on-america/illegal-chinese-vapes-us-market-youth-vaping-epidemic-ecigarettes-fda-atf-capitol-hill-dick-durbin-senator-tobacco-health-addiction-children-fentanyl-heavy-metals _______________ Stay up to date with our social media: 13 WHAM on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/13WHAM 13 WHAM on Twitter: https://twitter.com/13WHAM Subscribe to 13 WHAM on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFQyVljCrdof5Uqmo8p3c0Q/?sub_confirmation=1 13 WHAM Daily News Digest: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuTJB6tta5ar3Fu5CumAvlvVunEP6bc9A For more information, visit https://13wham.com/ Have a news tip? Send it directly to us: Email us: news@13wham.com Call the Newsroom: 585.334.8700 WHAM is a NY based station and a ABC Television affiliate owned and operated by Deerfield Media, Inc and receives certain services from an affiliation of Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today. #13WHAM #ABCLOCAL13 #Rochester