Attorney General James Uthmeier announces record-breaking seizure of illegal vaping products across Florida targeting dangerous and unlawful retailers

Tallahassee, Florida – In a record-setting enforcement action, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the largest seizure of illegal and contraband vaping products in the state’s history. The seizure, coordinated through the statewide Vape Task Force, involved multiple state and local agencies working together to target vape shops selling products that violate Florida law and pose serious risks to children and consumers.

“These businesses are knowingly selling illegal products that are designed to attract children and evade Florida law,” Attorney General Uthmeier said. “This record-breaking seizure sends a clear message: if you profit off addiction, deception, and dangerous substances, we will find you and shut you down.”

The operation was a joint effort involving the Enforcement Unit of the Florida Attorney General’s Office, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), and local law enforcement partners. Agencies coordinated across multiple locations, carrying out inspections, seizures, and arrests to protect communities and ensure compliance with state regulations.

“Florida law is clear, and FDACS is committed to enforcing it,” said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson. “These illegal products threaten public health, undermine legitimate businesses, and too often are designed to target children. We will continue working with our fellow law enforcement partners to remove these dangerous and unlawful products from store shelves and protect Florida families.”

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DBPR Secretary Melanie S. Griffin emphasized the importance of collaboration in the operation. “These joint task force operations demonstrate Florida’s unwavering commitment to protecting our communities—especially our children—from illegal and dangerous products,” Griffin said. “Working alongside the Office of the Attorney General, FDLE, FDACS, and our local law enforcement partners, DBPR is taking decisive action to hold bad actors accountable and to remove unlawful vapes, nitrous oxide products, and other prohibited substances from the marketplace. We will continue to use every enforcement tool available to ensure retailers follow the law and that Florida families are protected.”

Local law enforcement leaders praised the coordinated effort as well. “The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office is proud to be a part of this team effort,” said Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden. “It involved effective and worthwhile partnerships designed to protect our communities and keep our young people safe. These products are not harmless, and when they’re sold illegally or marketed towards minors, getting them off the streets is a mission worthy of this combined effort.”

Milton Police Chief Jennifer Frank also highlighted the collaboration. “I am extremely proud of the hard work and dedication demonstrated by our officers and our partner agencies in this operation,” Chief Frank said. “This joint effort underscores the strength of cooperation between local and state entities. Our community’s safety remains a top priority, and we will continue to work tirelessly to enforce the law and protect our youth from harmful and illegal substances.”

Across four task force operations, law enforcement and regulatory partners seized a total of 2,183 contraband vapes, along with nitrous oxide canisters, chargers, and related drug paraphernalia. The breakdown of seized vapes included 263 in Clermont, 636 in Ocoee, 855 in Okaloosa County, and 423 in Milton. In addition, 195 nitrous oxide canisters were removed from Unique Vape and Cigar during a compliance check, with an additional 7 canisters seized in Milton. Law enforcement also confiscated 50 nitrous oxide chargers, commonly called “crackers,” and balloons used for inhalation.

The owner of Unique Vape and Cigar, Golam Farooque, was arrested on eight felony counts of Illegal Sale of Nitrous Oxide by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. Under Florida Statutes Section 893.145, nitrous oxide chargers and related items are classified as drug paraphernalia, and their sale and distribution are strictly regulated.

FDACS also conducted regulatory inspections and removed thousands of illegal products from store shelves. In Clermont, inspectors removed 2,054 packages from six stores, while in Ocoee, 6,181 packages from eight stores were taken off shelves. FDACS is finalizing removal totals from enforcement actions in Okaloosa County, Milton, and Gulf Breeze.

The products were removed for a variety of violations, including failure to meet container and labeling requirements, lack of child-resistant packaging, unlawful advertising and marketing practices, and packaging, business names, logos, colors, or additives designed to appeal to children. Additional violations included references to illegal or unlawful substances, promotion of marijuana use, and the presence of controlled or prohibited substances such as 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), tianeptine, and hemp extract containing more than 0.3 percent total delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on a wet-weight basis.

The Vape Task Force is a multi-agency enforcement initiative focused on protecting Florida consumers and keeping illegal and dangerous products out of the hands of children. Investigations and inspections remain ongoing across the state, with officials emphasizing the importance of continued vigilance and compliance.

Attorney General Uthmeier established the Vape Free Florida Fund in March 2025 to aid in the enforcement of the state’s nicotine and vapor laws following a $79 million settlement with JUUL Labs. The fund supports the Vape Task Force and other enforcement efforts to prevent the sale of illegal and dangerous vaping products to minors.

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“This operation demonstrates Florida’s commitment to keeping our children safe and holding those who profit off illegal products accountable,” Uthmeier said. “The state will continue to monitor retailers, remove unlawful products, and use every enforcement tool available to protect families from these dangers.”

The scale of the seizure underscores the growing concern over the proliferation of illegal vaping products, which are often designed to be attractive to minors and evade legal regulations. Law enforcement and regulatory agencies continue to stress that these products are not harmless, and even a single illegal vape or nitrous oxide canister can pose serious health risks.

Officials encouraged the public and local businesses to report suspicious sales or marketing of vaping and nitrous oxide products. Through combined efforts, authorities hope to prevent access to harmful products, reduce addiction risks, and protect Florida families from the dangers of unregulated substances.

As Florida moves forward, the Vape Task Force will continue to conduct inspections, remove illegal products, and take enforcement actions where necessary. With this historic seizure, the state has sent a clear warning to retailers who sell unlawful vapes and other prohibited items: illegal activity will not be tolerated, and the safety of children and communities remains the top priority.

This record-breaking operation marks a turning point in Florida’s fight against illegal vaping products, demonstrating the strength of collaboration between state agencies, local law enforcement, and regulatory partners. Officials remain committed to maintaining these efforts and ensuring that Florida’s youth are protected from harmful substances.