According to a report, the number of illegal vape seizures in the US state of Massachusetts surged 21,000% in 2024, with high taxes and bans triggering black market transactions, resulting in a loss of tax revenue for the state government and damage to small and medium-sized enterprises.
Key points:
1. The number of illegal vape seizures in Massachusetts increased from 1,326 to 279,432 in 2024, an increase of 21,000%.
2. There is a thriving black market for banned products such as tax-free menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, which are thought to be triggered by high taxes and strict prohibitions.
3. The restrictive policies of the Modernizing Tobacco Control Act of 2019 have resulted in lost tax revenue for state governments, pressure on small and medium-sized businesses, and consumers turning to illegal sellers.
Massachusetts Seizures of Illegal Vape Skyrocket 21,000% in US
According to the Tobaccoreporter on March 11, a report pointed out that the number of illegal vape seizures in the U.S. state of Massachusetts increased by 21,000% in 2024. The state’s multi-agency Illicit Tobacco Task Force, which is part of the state Department of Revenue, said the number of vapes seized by state police increased from 1,326 to 279,432.
The report also found a thriving black market for tax-free menthol cigarettes, flavored cigars, and other banned products, which is thought to be triggered by high taxes and strict prohibitions.
The state’s restrictive policies can be traced back to the Modernizing Tobacco Control Act of 2019, which banned the sale of flavored tobacco products and imposed a 75 percent excise tax on electronic nicotine systems. This has also allowed local authorities to exert their own control, with a large number of towns raising more taxes, establishing intergenerational bans, and banning specific products.
Says Peter Brennan, executive director of the New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketing Association,
- “These numbers are staggering and confirm what we’ve been warning from the beginning – Massachusetts creates the perfect environment for illegal smuggling.” Our members are losing customers every day, and state governments are losing revenue due to exorbitant taxes and product bans because criminals are filling the void.”
- “This report also clearly shows what is wrong with more bans, such as creating a so-called nicotine-free generation or restricting the sale of nicotine products to adult shops only, which will only make the situation worse – driving more consumers to illegal sellers. Losing more tax revenue and putting even more pressure on our small and medium-sized businesses.”
