Amazon has removed products that could be used to create
counterfeit vaping products.
The online retail giant stopped selling the packaging and empty oil cartridges as a spate of fatal vaping-linked mystery lung conditions sweeps the US.
A seventh victim of the mystery condition was confirmed this
week and even President Trump has floated the idea of a ban on flavoured
e-cigarette oils.
US health authorities are investigating a link to contaminants
and counterfeit substances in black market and legitimate vape products
containing CBD and THC.
Criminals can buy the materials online, fill them with black
market vaping fluid, and sell them on.
The products removed from Amazon had names such as ‘Dank Vape Empty Packaging’ and ‘Cali Plug Carts Packaging’.
Amazon, the world’s largest retailer, told MPR News it does not
allow “e-cigarettes or drug paraphernalia” to be sold.
A statement added: “We require all sellers to follow our
selling guidelines and have dedicated teams that use sophisticated tools,
including machine learning, to keep prohibited products out of our store.
“We take action on those who violate our policies, including
removal of selling privileges and withholding of funds.”
Just this week two brothers were charged with a string of offences in connection with a large-scale counterfeit THC vaping operation.
Tyler Huffhines, 20, and his 23-year-old brother, Jacob
Huffhines, of Paddock Lake in the US state of Wisconsin, face numerous
charges including possession of THC with the intent to deliver, maintaining a
drug trafficking place, identity theft, possession of a firearm by a felon and
cocaine possession.
Officers are investigating whether the operation is tied
to the mystery lung condition.
