By Forum Staff
Mayor Eric Adams and City Corporation Counsel Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix on Thursday announced that the City has filed a lawsuit against 11 wholesalers for their part in the illegal sale of flavored disposable e-cigarettes, the most popular vaping devices among middle school and high school youth. The 11 defendants – located in Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, and upstate New York – are alleged to have distributed, and continue to distribute, youth-friendly-flavored disposable e-cigarettes – such as Strawberry Colada, Mellow Mint, Blueberry Energize, and Frozen Creamsicle – to retail vape and smoke shops, convenience stores, and directly to consumers over the internet, in violation of federal, New York state, and New York City law.
The City Administrative Code prohibits the sale of flavored disposable e-cigarettes entirely.
Thursday’s lawsuit seeks to block the defendants from further sales of these illegal items and seeks damages and penalties under state and city statutes.
The City’s investigations allegedly show that the 11 defendants sell and deliver flavored vapes to retail stores and consumers in the five boroughs.
The City also seeks to recover monetary damages and civil penalties from the 11 defendants:
- Urban Smoke Distributors (34-10 58th St. Woodside) purchased thousands of flavored Elf Bar, Lost Mary, and Funky Republic disposable e-cigarettes from in-state and out-of-state distributors, presumptively for sale to city wholesalers or retailers.
- EnvironMD Group LLC (2918 Avenue J, Brooklyn, and/or 1222 Avenue M, Suite 501, Brooklyn) sold flavored Myle Meta Bar brand and Fume brand disposable e-cigarettes to a Brooklyn wholesaler.
- GT Imports (23 West Mall, Plainview) delivered unspecified brands of flavored disposable e-cigarettes with an approximate value of $1 million to various wholesalers located in New York City.
- Kayla Wholesale, Inc., d/b/a The Vapery (366 N. Broadway, Suite Ph5, Jericho) supplied flavored e-cigarettes, including STIG mango and STIG Lush Ice, to distributors and directly to consumers in the city over the internet.
- KLCC Wholesale Inc. (452 E 99th St., Brooklyn) has purchased, from out-of-state distributors, large quantities of flavored disposable e-cigarettes, including Hyde and Breeze brands, presumptively for sale to city wholesalers or retailers.
- V. Trading, LLC (32-30 62nd St. Brooklyn) purchased thousands of 7200 Elf Bar, Lost Mary, and Voopoo Drag Bar e-flavored disposable e-cigarettes from out-of-state dealers, presumptively for sale to city wholesalers or retailers.
- Pioneer Distribution, Inc. a/k/a Wevapeusa.com a/k/a Seller Supreme LLC (1100 Coney Island Ave., Suite 402, Brooklyn) purchased hundreds of flavored Elf Bar disposable e-cigarettes from an out-of-state distributor and sells flavored disposable e-cigarettes over the internet to consumers in the city.
- RZ Smoke Inc. (412 Hillside Ave., New Hyde Park) sold hundreds of flavored Air Bar flavored disposable e-cigarettes to a Brooklyn wholesaler.
- Star Zone Inc. (3085B New St., Oceanside) delivered to retailers throughout the city approximately 14,000 flavored disposable e-cigarettes of various brands for which it was paid $650,000.
- Vape More Inc. and More LLC (638 Columbia St. Ext., Latham) sold Strawberry Banana, Strawberry Kiwi, Hawaii Punch, Juicy Peach, Blue Razz, Lemon Ice, and Lemon Mint Elf Bar, as well as Lost Mary flavored disposable e-cigarettes to Urban Smoke Distributors in the city.
- Vape Plus Distribution Corp. a/k/a G&A Distribution (2578 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn) purchased thousands of flavored disposable e-cigarettes from various distributors outside the city, presumptively for sale to city retailers.
