CINCINNATI–U.S. Customs and Border Protections officers in Cincinnati seized a shipment of 72,500 counterfeit disposable flavored pods packets on March 12. The shipment arriving from Hong Kong and heading to Georgia contained 153 cartons containing the Pop Blue Razz Disposable Vaping devices. The pods, if they were real, were valued at $1,147,500.

The United States Food and Drug Administration remains deeply concerned about respiratory illnesses and deaths related to vaping, which is why CBP takes intellectual property rights enforcement so seriously. It is because of the potential health and safety threats counterfeit goods, like these electronic nicotine products, pose to American consumers. The pods in U.S. are produced in regulated facilities, and the manufacturing process and ingredients are regulated by the U.S. government, a sharp contrast to counterfeit products manufactured overseas.

“Consumer health and safety are our key concerns when Customs and Border Protection officers enforce intellectual property rights laws,” said Richard Gillespie, Cincinnati’s Port Director. “Counterfeit products that you inhale or ingest could seriously hurt you. They are manufactured in unregulated and unsanitary facilities with ingredients that you cannot be sure are authentic.”

CBP continues works diligently to stop illegal vaping products from entering the U.S. One of the more popular brands of vaping products on the market today, Juul, has been seen being imported illegally in many ways, most of which is counterfeit.

In October of last year, CBP officers in Cincinnati seized a shipment that contained 180 counterfeit Juul pod packets. This shipment also came from Hong Kong, and was heading to a residence in Miami. If the products were real, the value of the shipment was $2,691.

Customs and Border Protection officers across the country seize about $3.7 million in counterfeit consumer goods every day, and continues to works with trademark holders to protect their intellectual property rights.