Key Points:

• New York City sues nine major vape distributors for selling flavored e-cigarettes illegally.
• The lawsuit builds on previous actions by the city and ties into a February 2025 case brought by the New York Attorney General.
• Mayor Adams links the case to broader public health efforts, including his crackdown on illegal cannabis shops through “Operation Padlock to Protect.”

New York City has filed a federal lawsuit against nine major distributors of flavored disposable e-cigarettes, accusing them of illegally targeting children and teens with addictive, kid-friendly vape products.

Mayor Eric Adams and Corporation Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant, the lawsuit alleges the companies violated multiple federal, state, and city laws by selling unauthorized flavored e-cigarettes through local sub-distributors and online sales.

“Nicotine addiction among middle and high school youth is exploding—fueled in large part by companies that shamelessly target our kids,” said Adams. “This lawsuit makes clear we will do whatever it takes to stop them. We’ve already sealed more than 1,300 illegal cannabis shops. Now, we’re going after the next wave of harmful products flooding our neighborhoods.”

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the case alleges violations of the federal Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act, New York State Public Health Law, and New York City’s ban on flavored e-cigarettes. It also claims the distributors are creating a public health nuisance by pushing products designed to appeal to children.

Corporation Counsel Goode-Trufant called the case “a continuation of the city’s fight to hold predatory companies accountable for the youth vaping epidemic.”

The lawsuit is connected to a broader legal campaign by the city that includes three prior lawsuits filed in 2023 and 2024 targeting other major vape distributors and wholesalers. The lawsuit also builds on a February 2025 case filed by New York State Attorney General Letitia James, which targets some of the same distribution networks. All cases are pending.

Named defendants in the new suit include Puff BAR Inc., EVO Brands LLC, Midwest Goods Inc., MYLÉ VAPE INC., and others. The city seeks a court order to block the companies from further sales in New York City and is pursuing financial penalties and damages.

“It is illegal to sell flavored e-cigarettes in New York City,” said City Hall Chief Counsel Allison Stoddart. “We are holding these companies accountable for putting profits over the health of our communities.”

The Adams administration has paired its legal strategy with aggressive enforcement, including “Operation Padlock to Protect,” which since May 2024 has shut down more than 1,370 illegal cannabis shops and seized over $94 million in illicit goods, according to the release.

Sheriff Anthony Miranda praised the multi-agency effort: “This is what it looks like when law enforcement and communities work together to get real results. We’re making neighborhoods safer and healthier.”

In parallel with enforcement, the city has launched initiatives to support legal cannabis entrepreneurs, including access to no-fee loans and business training programs.

“Whether it’s vape distributors or illegal smoke shops, we’re taking bold steps to protect New Yorkers—especially our kids,” said Mayor Adams. “We want this city to be the best place in the world to raise a family, and that means fighting back against the industries harming our children’s health.”