The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced a major joint enforcement action targeting the sale of unauthorized flavored e-cigarettes. This nationwide operation led to the seizure of over 2.1 million illicit vaping products from five distributors and six retailers across seven states.
According to court filings, the government alleges that these distributors and retailers had previously received FDA warnings. These warnings explicitly stated that their e-cigarette products required premarket authorization to be sold legally. Despite these notices, recent FDA inspections and undercover investigations by agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) revealed that the companies continued to sell or distribute these unauthorized vape products.
This coordinated crackdown was executed by the U.S. Marshals Service, ATF agents, and other law enforcement partners, with support from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the FDA.
A Matter of National Security
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Pamela S. Karlan stated, “These dangerous, illegal e-cigarettes are often smuggled from China and sold near schools and military bases, directly harming our nation’s youth and service members. This is a matter of national security, and this month’s raids are just the beginning. We will work closely with HHS to pursue criminal charges against those involved in these illegal sales.”
U.S. Marshals Service Director Ronald L. Davis noted, “Through this joint operation, the Marshals Service seized and removed over 2.1 million unapproved e-cigarette products from five distribution warehouses and six retail stores across the country. This action demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement agencies to work together to protect our youth and build a healthier America.”
In addition to the product seizures, the DOJ has filed civil complaints seeking permanent injunctions against the distributors and retailers. The complaints allege that the defendants continued to sell adulterated and misbranded e-cigarette products even after receiving FDA warnings about their illegal status.
Companies Targeted in the Enforcement Action
The government has named several companies and individuals in its civil complaints and injunction lawsuits:
Civil Complaints Filed:
- Tampa Vapor and owner Michael Sinisi (Tampa, FL)
- Progressive Retail Inc. (d/b/a Rainbow Food Mart) and president Viren Choradia (Tampa,FL)
- Bouslimi Holdings Inc. (d/b/a Marathon/Food Center) and president Imed Bouslimi (Tampa, FL)
- A Joint Effort Inc. (d/b/a Blvd Smoke Shop) and executive Husam Bakhour (Miami, FL)
- Calle 8 Petroleum LLC (d/b/a UGAS/Circle K) and owner Rasheed Saeed (Miami, FL)
- Smoke House Sunset Inc. and owner Ali Masoud (Los Angeles, CA)
- D&A Distribution LLC (d/b/a Strictly E-Cig) and owner Robert Ali (Savannah, GA)
- PSM101 LLC (d/b/a Center Point Distributors) and owner Niravkumar Vora (South Plainfield, NJ)
- B&G Trading LLC (d/b/a Vaportech Wholesale) and co-owners Ataman Bilgin and Hasmet Gilgin (Phoenix, AZ)
- Midwest Goods Inc. (d/b/a Midwest Distribution & Midwest Distribution Illinois) and owner/CEO Kamran Yasin (Bensenville, IL)
- Dream Distro LLC and owner Faisel Alhadhrami (Garner, NC)
Injunction Lawsuit Filed:
- Gorilla Vapes LLC and co-owners Nick Jurczyk and Russell Jurczyk (New Jersey)
Legal Framework for E-Cigarettes
Under U.S. law, manufacturers of new tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, must undergo a premarket review process and receive marketing authorization from the FDA before their products can be legally sold in interstate commerce. In all seizure actions, the courts issued warrants authorizing the confiscation of e-cigarettes that lacked the required marketing authorization.
What This Means for the Vaping Industry
This large-scale enforcement action represents a significant escalation in the federal government’s efforts to control the e-cigarette market. The focus on flavored disposable vapes, which are popular among youth, highlights the FDA and DOJ’s commitment to addressing underage vaping.
For consumers, this crackdown signals that many popular products may soon disappear from shelves as regulators intensify their scrutiny. For retailers and distributors, the message is clear: continuing to sell unauthorized products after receiving official warnings carries severe legal and financial risks, including product seizures and permanent injunctions. This operation underscores that the era of lax enforcement is over, and compliance with FDA regulations is now a critical business necessity.
