An Arizona-rooted law enforcement coalition is calling on federal regulators to route new anti-vaping enforcement dollars directly to the local agencies they say are best equipped to stop illegal products from reaching store shelves.
The Border Security Alliance (BSA), a national group led in part by current and former Arizona law enforcement officers and officials, sent a letter this week to FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, urging the agency to direct $200 million in recently approved enforcement funding toward state and local police rather than federal agencies alone.
Congress set aside the money specifically to crack down on illegal e-cigarettes and vape products, with at least $2 million earmarked for a joint task force between the FDA, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The Border Security Alliance argues that federal coordination alone won't be enough to disrupt the retail networks where illegal vapes actually end up in consumers' hands. However, the scale of the problem is significant.
Operation Vape Trail
A recent federal operation called "Operation Vape Trail" resulted in the seizure of more than two million illegal vape devices and cartridges, along with more than 100 arrests and the recovery of over 100 firearms across multiple states.
The coalition is asking the FDA to direct the full $200 million to state and local agencies, bring those agencies into the existing federal task force on a sustained basis, and build a national framework for sharing intelligence about illegal distribution networks.
Furthermore, the group's leadership has deep Arizona roots.
Its president is Jobe Dickinson, a former Tucson police officer, and two of its four board members currently serve with the Tucson and Glendale police departments. Jonathan Lines, a current Yuma County supervisor, serves as chairman.
Additionally, Maricopa County Supervisor Thomas Galvin also sits on the coalition's advisory council.
The alliance argues that federal dollars will go further when they support officers already embedded in the communities where illegal vape sales are happening, making local agencies the logical center of any serious enforcement effort.
