There’s A Booming Black Market of Nicotine Products: Don't Be Fooled

With nicotine pouches and vapes making headlines more than ever, it’s only natural to question the quality of what you’re using (or thinking about switching to). Are these products thoroughly tested? Can you trust that everything stocked on a store's shelf has been properly vetted?

Unfortunately, something many adult consumers don’t realize is: Where you buy your nicotine products matters just as much as what you buy.

A new Reuters investigation has just exposed how “middlemen” are helping illegal vapes flood the US market. These are often disposable, imported products of unknown quality that bypass regular testing requirements and are not authorized by US standards.  

They’re being sold in ways that puts unknowing consumers at risk, and—if we’re not careful—the same sort of problem could easily escalate in the nicotine pouch market.

According to the article, shady firms have found ways to funnel illicit vapes from countries, like China, into US stores. This is not news to those of us working hard to do the right thing by consumers and the industry alike, but it may come as a surprise to some.  

By setting strict internal standards for the products we sell, we’re trying to act in the interests of our consumers and the broader goal of tobacco harm reduction. Black-market vendors are motivated purely by profit, which sets a dangerous precedent.

Laura Leigh Oyler

VP Regulatory Affairs, Northerner

The cheap, imitation products they're smuggling into the United States dodge FDA review, avoid taxes, and skirt age-verification regulations designed to protect youth. The FDA has even uncovered vapes disguised as other items like kids' toys and shoes popping up in gas stations, corner stores, and smoke shops.  

The scary part is that a lot of people don't realize what they're buying is illegal and potentially dangerous. A recent study by UC Davis found high levels of heavy metals in the illicit products they tested, highlighting the importance of products that have been subjected to review by not only manufacturers and the FDA, but then again by retailers like us. 

But these illicit products don’t just pose health risks. They’re also being seized by regulators and taken off shelves overnight, compromising some adults’ ability to meet their nicotine needs and leaving them stuck in a cycle of uncertainty. Many shoppers may be supporting illegal business practices without even realizing it. 

This situation emphasizes the importance of shopping with a licensed and compliant retailer, like us. When you buy from Northerner, you don’t have to worry about your favorite product disappearing or being tied to an unregulated supply chain. It's about more than just convenience—it’s about protecting your right to choose a legal and regulated alternative.

We source all our nicotine pouches directly from legitimate manufacturers based in the US who take the time to go through FDA review, which requires extensive scientific testing of the product, continued reporting of product data, and ongoing inspection. Working with local suppliers,as we do, also protects you from tariffs and unreasonable price hikes.

When shopping with us, you get the product exactly as it was intended: 

• We don't deal with sketchy distributors; 
• There are no re-packaged imports from who-knows-where; 
• The ingredients in every pouch have been independently tested and match what it says on the label; 
• We only work with brands that share our commitment to science, compliance, and transparency.

The rise of illegal vapes was not inevitable. It happened because the legal market failed to meet consumer demand, and these middlemen saw an opportunity to fill that gap (while lining their pockets).

That’s why it’s important to build a legitimate, well-regulated market for nicotine pouches now, before bad actors step in and take advantage—it seems some are already trying with reports of fake ZYN starting to circulate.  

From a retail perspective, that means pushing the FDA to authorize more science-backed, smoke-free products. From a consumer perspective, it also means being smart about how you shop.

As someone looking for smoke- and tobacco leaf-free alternatives like nicotine pouches and gums, you deserve products that are: 

• Legal; 
• Lab tested; 
• Adult only (21+); 
• Delivered to your door. 
  
  

That’s exactly what we offer at Northener. No shortcuts. No regulatory gray areas. Just quality and compliance you can trust, with the added convenience of home delivery.