Vapes and Violence — Mexico’s Prohibition Problem

Mexico’s constitutional ban on vapour products has not curbed use — it has created a billion-dollar black market controlled by organised crime. Vapes and Violence, the new PDNW Country Report, reveals how prohibition handed the entire sector to cartels including Los Chapitos, CJNG, La Mayiza, and Unión Tepito. These groups now use their drug-trafficking infrastructure to import counterfeit and untested devices from China, distribute them through extortion networks, and violently enforce monopolies — with reports of arson, kidnappings, and torture of retailers who refuse to sell cartel-approved products.

The report documents how prohibition has turned a public-health measure into a public-safety crisis. Over 1.8 million Mexicans now vape — all through illegal channels — while youth use has more than quadrupled since 2018. With no quality control or age-of-sale enforcement, illicit vapes have been found to contain heavy metals, THC, methamphetamine, and even fentanyl, exposing consumers to severe health risks. Meanwhile, U.S. authorities warn that cartels are now trafficking these same products northward, flooding American markets with an estimated 200 million illegal vapes in 2024 alone.

PDNW’s analysis is unequivocal: fifteen years of prohibition have strengthened criminal syndicates, eroded consumer safety, and deprived Mexico of up to USD 370 million in potential annual tax revenue. The report calls for a transition to evidence-based regulation — licensing, testing, and traceability — to restore public oversight, protect youth, and dismantle the illicit trade. Mexico’s experience offers a clear warning to other nations: when governments ban harm-reduction tools, crime fills the vacuum.

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You can download the report here:
‍English Version‍
‍Spanish Version