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Tag: counterfeit vape cartridges

  • Vaping-Related Fatalities Rise To 23 With Death Of Bronx Teen

    Vaping-Related Fatalities Rise To 23 With Death Of Bronx Teen

    The 17-year-old New Yorker is the youngest person in the country to fall victim to a vaping-related illness.

    A Bronx teenager has become the youngest victim to die of a vaping-related illness. The 17-year-old boy’s death marked the 23rd vaping-related death in the country, and the first in New York state.

    The boy died on Friday after being hospitalized twice in September for the illness, the New York Times reported.

    No End In Sight

    Across the U.S., about 1,100 vaping-related lung injuries have been reported, with the outbreak “continuing at a brisk pace,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the CDC.

    New York’s health department has received 110 reports of severe lung illness in patients aged 14-69 who had used at least one vape product before falling ill as of Tuesday (Oct. 8). 

    Governor Andrew Cuomo warned families to be wary of the products. “Parents have to know; young people have to know. You are playing with your life when you play with this stuff.”

    New Jersey’s First Vaping-Related Death

    Last week, New Jersey also reported the state’s first vaping-related death, an adult woman from north Jersey.

    The FDA recently urged the public to stop using vape products that contain THC or any vape product obtained illegally. So far, investigators say that black market vape products that contain THC appear to be a common denominator in the outbreak.

    They may be on to something. A recent lab analysis commissioned by NBC News revealed that legal THC vape cartridges were found to contain no heavy metals, pesticides or solvents like vitamin E. But the majority of black market THC vape cartridges did contain vitamin E and myclobutanil, a fungicide that becomes hydrogen cyanide when burned.

    Recent busts have shed light on the lucrative business of producing and selling counterfeit THC vape products.

    A Wisconsin woman was arrested in late September for allegedly helping run her sons’ THC vape cartridge operation, which involved purchasing empty vape cartridges and colorful packaging on the internet and filling the cartridges with THC oil using syringes.

    Authorities seized nearly 130,000 cartridges that were either empty or contained THC oil between the family’s home in Paddock Lake, Wisconsin and a condominium in nearby Bristol.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Mother Accused Of Helping Sons Run Counterfeit THC Vape Operation

    Mother Accused Of Helping Sons Run Counterfeit THC Vape Operation

    Authorities reportedly seized nearly 130,000 cartridges that were either empty or contained THC oil from the family-run operation.

    A Wisconsin mother has been accused of helping her young adult sons run a massive counterfeit vape operation.

    Courtney Huffhines, 43, was arrested last Monday (Sept. 30) and has been charged with maintaining a drug-trafficking place, possession with intent to deliver and misappropriation of personal identifying materials.

    Authorities believe that Huffhines was involved in the counterfeit operation by providing a place to run the business and even helping package the THC cartridges at her real estate office, according to Rolling Stone.

    Jacob and Tyler Huffhines, 23 and 20 respectively, were arrested on September 5. Tyler, “the alleged ringleader,” was charged with maintaining a drug house, identity theft and intent to manufacture and distribute THC over 10,000 grams. Jacob was charged with possession of cocaine, THC and a firearm.

    Police Seize THC Oil Estimated to be Worth Over $1.5 Million

    Upon a raid of the family’s home in Paddock Lake and a condominium in nearby Bristol, authorities seized nearly 130,000 cartridges that were either empty or contained THC oil estimated to be worth over $1.5 million.

    The brothers’ operation produced close to 3,000 cartridges a day. They had employed at least 10 people who were paid $20 per hour to fill the cartridges with THC oil that would sell for around $35 to $40 each.

    Police Cracking Down in Response to Recent Vaping Related Illnesses

    The U.S. is currently experiencing an alarming emergence of vaping-related lung injuries and deaths.

    At the time of Jacob and Tyler’s arrest in early September, officials had estimated there were about 400 possible cases of lung injuries and six deaths related to vaping in the U.S. As of October 4, those numbers have shot up to more than 1,000 possible cases and at least 18 deaths, according to the CDC.

    Investigators are honing in on the cause of this outbreak, but an exact cause is yet to be determined.

    Tyler Huffhines’ lawyer argued in his initial court appearance in September that there was no evidence to suggest that the brothers’ operation was connected to the vaping-related illnesses.

    Authorities in Minnesota raided another counterfeit vape operation in late September, arresting one individual in the process. They seized nearly 77,000 vape cartridges containing THC and $23,000 in counterfeit cash from the operation located in Coon Rapids, a suburb of Minneapolis. The cartridges were worth nearly $4 million, according to NBC News.

    So far Minnesota has reported one vaping-related death. There have been no such deaths reported from Wisconsin.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Vaping Death Toll Rises To Nine

    Vaping Death Toll Rises To Nine

    The Kansas resident, who was a new e-cigarette user, had an underlying health condition. 

    A second Kansas resident has died from a vaping-related illness, bringing the national death toll to at least nine as of Wednesday (Sept. 25). 

    The most recent victim was a man older than 50. He had an underlying health condition, according to information provided by the state’s Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). 

    “Today, I am saddened to announce the death of a second Kansan in association with this outbreak,” Governor Laura Kelly said in a news release. “Dr. Lee Norman and his team with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment are working tirelessly with other states and organizations to gather facts on e-cigarettes and its effects. We are coordinating a response to combat this epidemic, so that families can avoid such tragic outcomes.”

    New Users Are Affected Too

    The man was reportedly a new vape pen user. 

    “The patient had recently begun using e-cigarettes prior to hospitalization,” said state epidemiologist Dr. Farah Ahmed.

    The information on vaping-related illness in Kansas shows how widespread the issue is. The other death in the state was of a woman, also over 50, who also had underlying health issues.

    However, of the nine confirmed cases of vape-related deaths in the country, the victims have ranged in age from 17-67. They’ve included five men and four women. The products linked to the illnesses have contained tobacco, THC, CBD or a combination of these. 

    “E-cigarettes are unregulated, which means that we don’t know what’s in them,” said Norman, the secretary of KDHE. “And, of great concern to me, is that in the midst of all these illnesses being reported, the amount of young people using them is significant.”

    Youth Vaping Epidemic

    Parents must be aware that even though their children aren’t smoking traditional cigarettes, they could be vaping, officials say.  

    “Most teens who vape have never smoked cigarettes. Vaping is how they are initiating inhaling things into their lungs. We must work diligently and swiftly in addressing this public health crisis,” Norman said. 

    The state reports that 10.6% of high schoolers and 4.6% of adults use vaping products. All of them could be at risk, since it’s unknown what is causing vape-related illnesses. 

    “The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is urging people to stop vaping while this national investigation is underway,” said Ahmed.

    Norman said it’s important that everyone be aware of the risks of vaping, especially while vape pens remain widely available. 

    “Until [new] rules and regulations go into effect, education is our best defense,” he said. “Talk to your kids. Talk to your grandkids. Keep talking about these issues.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Brothers Accused Of Running Massive Illegal THC Vaping Operation

    Brothers Accused Of Running Massive Illegal THC Vaping Operation

    Authorities are only beginning to understand the scope of the Huffhines brothers’ massive operation.

    A recent bust of an illegal THC vape operation has bewildered authorities, also shedding light on what may be causing severe lung damage among vapers across the country.

    So far, over the last several months, health officials have counted about 400 possible cases of severe lung illness related to vaping, and six deaths. The cause is still being investigated, but state and federal officials suspect that contaminants found in products purchased on the black market are what have caused so many to fall ill.

    Now, the discovery of a meticulous and extensive illegal THC vape business operating out of Wisconsin has shed light on the lengths that some people will go to profit from this growing industry.

    Drugs, Guns & Cash

    Jacob and Tyler Huffhines, 23 and 20 respectively, ran the business out of a condo in Bristol and their family’s home in Paddock Lake. Authorities seized $59,000 in cash, eight guns, various illicit drugs, 57 mason jars filled with THC oil, and nearly 130,000 cartridges that were either empty or contained the THC oil.

    “When we walked in there, we were like, ‘Oh boy,’” said Capt. Dan Baumann of the Waukesha Police Department. “This is what we were looking for, but we did not know it was this big.”

    The Huffhines siblings were arrested on September 5 and remain in custody in Kenosha County Jail. Tyler has been charged with the manufacture, distribution or delivery of marijuana, and Jacob has been charged with cocaine possession and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    The massive operation produced close to 3,000 cartridges a day, employing at least 10 people who were paid $20 per hour to fill the cartridges with the THC oil, the New York Times reported. Each cartridge would sell for around $35 to $40.

    This bust was a major development as vaping-related illness has become something of a public health crisis in the U.S. as of late. Experts detailed to the Times how counterfeit vapes are assembled piece by piece to produce a convincing product resembling real vapes that are sold in legal marijuana states like California and Colorado. 

    Making The Counterfeits

    Everything from the empty cartridges to packaging made to resemble the real thing, logos and all, are purchased on the internet. Then the cartridges are injected with THC oil purchased in the U.S. The problem, authorities say, lies in producers wanting to reap the most profit by diluting their product. This is where the suspected contaminants come in.

    Authorities suspect that black market suppliers are cutting the THC oil with fillers, such as vitamin E acetate, a thickening agent that is one suspected cause of what has been sickening so many people who vape.

    Investigators are only beginning to understand the scope of the Huffhines’ operation, and the likelihood of there being more like it.

    The Times said, “Wisconsin police say they were stunned by the scope and ambition of the Huffhines operation, and [are] only beginning to understand how far it might have reached.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Fake THC Vape Cartridges Making Users Sick

    Fake THC Vape Cartridges Making Users Sick

    In the midst of investigation, the CDC has declined to say which brands of vape cartridges are the most compromised.

    An 18-year-old was admitted to NYU Winthrop Hospital six weeks ago, presenting with chest pains, nausea, fever, and shortness of breath. Doctors there diagnosed him with a condition related to acute lung injury before setting him up with a breathing tube and putting him in a week-long induced coma.

    The doctors were baffled as to how he became so sick so quickly, until his mom found something in his trash: a marijuana vape cartridge with branding from TKO Extracts, a California-based THC company. As it turns out, the cartridge in question wasn’t theirs, but a knockoff.

    Fake Cartridges

    The teen made a full recovery, but his case is not unique as doctors would encounter a similar patient just one day later.

    A 19-year-old who showed up complaining of coughing, rapid weight loss, and chest pain, was found to have nodules in his lungs. These symptoms had appeared within a span of two weeks, so fast that the doctors at first thought he may have a fast-moving cancer. However, they eventually figured it out—black market THC cartridges.

    The hospital’s chief of pediatric pulmonology, Melodi Pirzada, had never seen such young and healthy patients become so desperately sick in such a small amount of time.

    “It’s becoming very scary. Every day, new cases are adding up,” she said. “Because we didn’t have this problem three months ago.”

    Pirzada is far from the only health care practitioner who is concerned with the acute health effects of counterfeit THC vape cartridges. Across the entirety of the United States, there have been 193 cases of severe lung afflictions in 22 states that have been linked to vaping.

    28 Cases In California

    In California, where recreational marijuana is legal, hospitals have taken on at least 28 cases wherein patients suffered from acute lung damage as a result of vaping THC.

    The problem has gotten to the point where the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released a health alert regarding these counterfeit, black market THC vape cartridges.

    The problem extends beyond California as well, including the states of Wisconsin and Utah that have seen severe lung ailments come about as a result of questionable vape cartridges.

    “Within the last few months it’s amazing how many cases from around the country have come into the spotlight,” said Dr. Raj Dasgupta, the pulmonary and critical care physician at the University of Southern California.

    In the midst of investigation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declined to officially state which brands of vape cartridges are the most compromised.

    “The investigation is ongoing. We cannot provide this information at this time,” a CDPH spokeperson told Rolling Stone. The problem seems isolated to only counterfeit THC vape cartridges and not vapes in general, according to Pirzada. “E-cigarettes cause their own problems. But this is a totally new issue,” she said.

    For now, vape enthusiasts may have to depend on one another to protect themselves from these knockoff THC cartridges. The Instagram account Dankbusters Official or the Reddit community “cleancarts” offer tips on how to identify authentic products, but they admit that there’s no way for a home user to know for sure.

    “Unless you’re spending $800 on every cartridge to get it tested, there’s no way to 100% know,” said the anonymous administrator of Dankbusters Official.

    View the original article at thefix.com