U.S. Marshals and other federal agents were seen at a facility in Bensenville, Illinois, Wednesday morning, conducting a raid related to vaping products.

Reports about a raid on the Midwest Distribution/Midwest Goods, Inc. facility on Foster Avenue in the west suburb began to be posted to social media shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday. 

There was initial speculation online that the raids involved immigration agents, but when CBS News Chicago arrived at the scene, U.S. Marshals and other federal agents in military uniforms could be seen going in and out of the facility. 

Around 10 a.m., they began setting up tables displaying significant amounts of vaping products that are believed to have been seized in the bust. There were also K-9 agents at the scene.

Around noon, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Health and Human Service Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. arrived at the warehouse to address the media about the raid. 

Midwest Good released a statement on what they called a “civil seizure action,” saying it was conducted by agents from the Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Marshals. 

According to the company, the majority of items seized were bottles of nicotine e-liquid for refillable e-cigarettes and vape devices made by 75 different brands. Midwest Goods said the products have had applications pending with the FDA for years, and the agency has previous allowed most, if not all, of these products to be marked and sold while the premarket applications are pending. 

The company said after an August inspection, they removed some items from their catalogue and offered to stop selling others, but while the FDA acknowledged receiving the communication, they did not request they stop selling any other products. The company said that was the last correspondence they had before this raid. 

“We find the FDA’s actions particularly troubling given reports earlier this week that FDA plans to expedite within a matter of months reviews of several tobacco products manufactured by Big Tobacco companies, including, to our understanding, products with applications submitted years after some of the products FDA is seizing from our warehouse,” the company said in a statement. 

Midwest Goods said it is fully cooperating with federal agents at their Bensenville warehouse. 

“Midwest intends to continue to cooperate with federal authorities and, if necessary, to vindicate our rights in court,” they wrote. 

CBS News Chicago has reached out to the U.S. Marshals and other law enforcement about the raid, but have not yet heard back. 

Midwest Goods is a wholesale business to business distributor of vape electronic cigarette supplies, as well as smoke shop, headshop and dispensary supplies in the U.S. They distribute products including disposable e-cigarettes, vaping liquid, vape modifications, pod systems and more. They also distribute paraphernalia, including pipes, bongs, vaporizers, rolling papers, hookahs, torches and lighters. 

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Sara Tenenbaum

Sara Tenenbaum is the Senior Digital Producer for CBS News Chicago covering breaking, local and community news in Chicago. She previously worked as a digital producer and senior digital producer for ABC7 Chicago.