State lawmakers must curb illicit vape sales in Illinois

In my professional life as a former senior special agent with the ATF and now as an educator teaching in secondary and higher education throughout Illinois, I have a unique view into both the criminal underworld and the communities it harms. I strongly support HB2634 because I believe it is critical to protect our state from the dangerous networks infiltrating our schools and neighborhoods through the illicit vape trade. 

From an enforcement perspective, illicit vape sales and associated crimes aren’t isolated violations. They are part of complex trafficking systems that rely on cross-border deception, shell distributors, and digital marketing aimed squarely at minors. I’ve seen these products come through ports mislabeled as electronics, sold in stores without any oversight, and end up in the hands of teenagers who don’t understand the risks. 

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