Counterfeit Vape Pods Seized At Philadelphia Port: Feds

PHILADELPHIA — Numerous fake e-cigarette pods were seized at a Philadelphia port recently, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials.

On Friday, Philadelphia CBP officers seized 295 Eonsmoke brand and 300 VGOD brand e-cigarette pods of various flavors that were shipped from Hong Kong to an address in Warrington.

Officers detained the shipment Sept. 3 and worked with CBP’s Consumer Products and Mass Merchandising Centers for Excellence and Expertise, the agency’s trade experts.

The trademark holders verified that the products were counterfeits and the shipment was appraised at $11,500.

There have been many recent media reports concerning serious illness and death of users of electronic cigarettes, but that threat may be compounded by the proliferation of counterfeit products being imported to the United States, officials said. CBP is working to identify and seize potential counterfeit e-cigarettes import before they can reach the market.

In April, CBP officers seized 1,152 counterfeit Juul pods, three chargers and a Juul device.

Consumers should be aware that counterfeit products are often manufactured in unregulated facilities and with substandard materials, officials said

"Counterfeit consumer goods, such as these electronic nicotine products, pose a great danger to consumers because there is no way to verify the authenticity or the safety of the product’s ingredients," said Casey Durst, CBP Director of Field Operations in Baltimore. "Customs and Border Protection will continue to work closely with our trade and consumer safety partners to intercept counterfeit consumer goods, especially products that can harm American consumers."