Authorities crack down on illegal tobacco and vaping sales in Spain and the US

In Alcalá del Valle, Spain, the Guardia Civil dismantled an illegal tobacco and vaping operation operating out of a candy store. Authorities seized 461 packs of tobacco, 375 vapers—including 87 smuggled units and 288 lacking Spanish health authorization—and over 6,000 unauthorized pyrotechnic devices stored negligently. The investigation revealed that tobacco was being sold manually, a practice restricted to licensed tobacconists. Additionally, the local official tobacco shop has been reported for supplying the illicit stock.

In the United States, a report in The New England Journal of Medicine indicates that over 69% of e-cigarette sales are illicit. Data analyzed by the CDC shows that while manufacturers must obtain FDA marketing authorization, only 39 products held such approval as of late 2025. The unauthorized market is heavily driven by flavored disposable vapes, which are popular among youth. Specifically, while 93.1% of tobacco-flavored products were authorized, none of the fruit, candy, or mint flavors received authorization, contributing to significant regulatory challenges.