Real Authentication Labels on Fake Vapor Products

This article looks at the newly created, massive illicit market in vapor products originating mainly from China and sold in the United States (US). Despite being banned in both China and the US, brands like Elf Bar, Geek Bar, and Lost Mary continue to circulate. What’s more, they carry authentication labels that falsely suggest legitimacy, further exacerbating illicit trade.

Evobar and Breeze product bought in Michigan, October 2024; Lost Mary bought in Kansas, November 2024. Red circle highlights SALE ONLY ALLOWED IN THE US.

Current state of illicit vapes in the US 

The illicit market in tobacco and nicotine products is as old as the United States itself. During the Revolutionary War, tobacco smuggling became a form of rebellion. Colonists smuggled tobacco to France and other European allies in exchange for weapons and supplies to support the war effort. Tobacco products have been smuggled, illegally imported and counterfeited ever since.