The drug bust shattered the early morning stillness of this manicured subdivision in southeastern Wisconsin.
The police pulled up outside a white-shuttered brick condo, jolting neighbours out of their beds with the thud of heavy banging on a door.
What they found inside was not crystal meth or cocaine or fentanyl but slim boxes of vaping cartridges labelled with flavours like strawberry and peaches and cream. An additional 98,000 cartridges lay empty.
1/50 15 September 2019
People paddle on a stand-up board during sunrise in a beach in Larnaca, Cyprus
Reuters
2/50 14 September 2019
Mourners hold portraits of Zimbabwe’s late President Robert Mugabe as they attend a farewell ceremony at the National Sports Stadium in Harare. Mugabe died in Singapore on September 6 at the age of 95. He left Zimbabwe deeply divided over his legacy with his country still struggling with high inflation and shortages of goods after decades of crisis
AFP/Getty
3/50 13 September 2019
Rescue workers on a boat rescue a person stranded inside a flooded tunnel after heavy floods in Pilar de la Horadada, Spain
Reuters
4/50 12 September 2019
Police officers try to control the crowd after members of the public were invited to view Robert Mugabe’s body as it lies in state at the Rufaro stadium in Harare, Zimbabwe
Reuters
5/50 11 September 2019
A US flag hangs from a steel girder, damaged in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center at a memorial in Jersey City. It is the 18th anniversary of the attacks
AP
6/50 10 September 2019
Local actors dressed as ancient warriors re-enact a scene from the 7th century battle of Kerbala during a ceremony marking Ashura in Iraq
Reuters
7/50 9 September 2019
A firefighter assesses the fire spreading across land on Long Gully Road in the town of Drake, Australia. A number of homes have been destroyed by bushfires in New South Wales and Queensland
EPA
8/50 8 September 2019
Damaged homes after hurricane Dorian devastated Elbow Key Island in Hope Town, Bahamas. The hurricane hit the island chain as a category 5 storm and battered them for two days before moving north
Getty
9/50 7 September 2019
An artist performs on Tverskaya street during celebrations marking the 872nd anniversary of the city of Moscow
AFP/Getty
10/50 6 September 2019
Children play football next to a defaced portrait of Former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in Harare on the day he died, aged 95. The former leader was forced to resign in 2017, after a 37-year rule, whose early promise was eroded by economic turmoil, disputed elections and human rights violations, has died
AP
11/50 5 September 2019
Authorities work at the scene of a train crash in Yokohama, south of Tokyo. According to media reports, more than 30 people were injured after a train hit a track at a crossing
EPA
12/50 4 September 2019
A police office removes burning tires from the road, as protesters set up fires to block traffic along Airport Road in Abuja, Nigeria
Reuters
13/50 3 September 2019
A riot police officer throws a teargas canister as looters make off with goods from a store in Germiston, east of Johannesburg, South Africa. Police had earlier fired rubber bullets as they struggled to stop looters who targeted businesses as unrest broke out in several spots in and around the city
AP
14/50 2 September 2019
A boat off the island of Santa Cruz in California burns in the early hours of Monday morning. More than 30 people were on board the boat, which is thought to have been on a three-day diving trip
EPA
15/50 1 September 2019
Flowers are laid in a hole in a wall as people gather in the gym of a school, the scene of the hostage crisis, in memory of victims on the fifteenth anniversary of the tragedy in Beslan, North Ossetia region, Russia. More than 330 people, including 186 children, died as a result of the terrorist attack at the school
AP
16/50 31 August 2019
A man sits in front of riot officers during the rally 'Calling One Hundred Thousands Christians Praying for Hong Kong Sinners’ in Hong Kong, China
EPA
17/50 30 August 2019
A migrant forces his way into the Spanish territory of Ceuta. Over 150 migrants made their way into Ceuta after storming a barbed-wire border fence with Morocco
AFP/Getty
18/50
A beagle jumps through hoops during a show at the Pet Expo Championship 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand. Although the four-day expo is primarily dog oriented it features a wide array of stalls catering to pet owners’ needs as well as showcasing a variety of animals including reptiles, birds, ferrets, and rabbits
EPA
19/50 28 August 2019
Baby elephants rub their trunks against a tree at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya. Countries that are part of an international agreement on trade in endangered species agreed on Tuesday to limit the sale of wild elephants, delighting conservationists but dismaying some of the African countries involved
AP
20/50 27 August 2019
Burning rubbles in the market of Bouake, central Ivory Coast, after a fire broke overnight
AFP/Getty
21/50 26 August 2019
French President Emmanuel Macron gestures as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, second from left, sits between British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, left, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel as they take part in a meeting at the G7 Summit in Biarritz, France
The Canadian Press via AP
22/50 25 August 2019
A Brazillian Air Force jet drops water to fight a fire in the Amazon rainforest in the state of Rondonia, Brazil
EPA
23/50 24 August 2019
A police officer prepares to strike a protester as clashes erupt during a pro-democracy march in Hong Kong’s Kowloon Bay
AFP/Getty
24/50 23 August 2019
Oxfam activists in costumes depicting leaders of the G7 nations protest in Biarritz, France on the day before the summit is due to be held there
AFP/Getty
25/50 22 August 2019
A vendor sits as she sells models of the Hindu deity Krishna on display at a roadside ahead of the 'Janmashtami’ festival in Chennai
Getty
26/50 21 August 2019
A girl reacts next to Pope Francis as he leads the weekly general audience in Paul VI Hall at the Vatican
Reuters
27/50 20 August 2019
A masked dancer takes part in the Nil Barahi mask dance festival, an annual event during which dancers perform while posing as various deities that people worship to seek blessings, in Bode, Nepal
Reuters
28/50 19 August 2019
Protesters take to the street to face off with Indonesian police in Manokwari, Papua. The riots broke out, with a local parliament building being torched, as thousands protested allegations that police tear-gassed and arrested students who supported the restive region’s independence
AFP/Getty
29/50 18 August 2019
People survey the destruction after an overnight suicide bomb explosion that targeted a wedding reception in Kabul, Afghanistan. At least 63 people, mostly wedding guests from the Shi’ite Muslim community, were killed and more than 180 injured when a suicide bomber attacked a wedding hall
EPA
30/50 17 August 2019
A man retrieves his prize after climbing up a greased pole during a competition held as part of Independence Day celebrations at Ancol Beach in Jakarta. Indonesia is celebrating its 74th anniversary of independence from the Dutch colonial rule
AP
31/50 16 August 2019
Swiss pianist and composer Alain Roche plays piano suspended in the air at dawn during the 20th „Jeux du Castrum”, a multidisciplinary festival in Switzerland
AFP/Getty
32/50 15 August 2019
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako bow during a memorial service ceremony marking the 74th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War Two, in Tokyo, Japan
Reuters
33/50 14 August 2019
A woman walks with a Kashmir’s flag to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir, during a ceremony to celebrate Pakistan’s 72nd Independence Day at the Mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi, Pakistan
Reuters
34/50 13 August 2019
The extraordinary moment a volcano erupted, shooting luminous hot lava from the surface, as a lightning bolt striked the centre of the mountain. Photographer Martin Reitze, 55, captured rare images of volcanic ash escaping from the Ebeko volcano in Russia whilst the lightning froze the ash cloud in time. Martin, from Munich, was standing around a kilometre away from the northern crater of the volcano when it erupted. The volcano expert said: „The strong lightning which shows in the image is a very rare exception, as it was much stronger than usual.”
Martin Reitze/SWNS
35/50 12 August 2019
People swim in a public bath pool in Zalakaros, Hungary. Some regions of the country have been issued the highest grade of warning by the National Meteorological Service as the temperatures may reach 33-38 centigrade
EPA
36/50 11 August 2019
A pro-democracy protester is held by police outside Tsim Sha Tsui Police station during a demonstration against the controversial extradition bill in Hong Kong
AFP/Getty
37/50 10 August 2019
Muslim pilgrims make their way down on a rocky hill known as Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual hajj pilgrimage, near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia
AP
38/50 9 August 2019
Waves hit a sea wall in front of buildings in Taizhou, China’s eastern Zhejiang province. China issued a red alert for incoming Super Typhoon Lekima which is expected to batter eastern Zhejiang province early on August 10 with high winds and torrential rainfall
AFP/Getty
39/50 8 August 2019
A herder struggles with his flock across a motorway at the city cattle market, ahead of the Eid al-Adha in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Eid al-Adha is the holiest of the two Muslims holidays celebrated each year, it marks the yearly Muslim pilgrimage (Hajj) to visit Mecca, the holiest place in Islam. Muslims slaughter a sacrificial animal and split the meat into three parts, one for the family, one for friends and relatives, and one for the poor and needy
EPA
40/50 7 August 2019
Kazakh servicemen perform during a ceremony opening the International Army Games at the 40th military base Otar in Zhambyl Region, Kazakhstan
Reuters
41/50 6 August 2019
Paleontologist Naturalis Anne Schulp takes part in the construction of the skeleton of the Tyrannosaurus Rex called Trix in Naturalis in Leiden, The Netherlands. After a month-long tour of Europe, Trix is home in time for the opening of the new museum
AFP/Getty
42/50 5 August 2019
Flowers paying tribute to the eight-year-old boy who died after he was pushed under a train at Frankfurt am Main’s station. The horrific crime happened last week and has led politicians to call for heightened security
AFP/Getty
43/50 4 August 2019
Mourners take part in a vigil near the border fence between Mexico and the US after a mass shooting at a Walmart store in El Paso killed 20 people. The suspected gunman behind shooting is believed to be a 21-year-old white man called Patrick Crusius
Reuters
44/50 3 August 2019
Pramac Racing’s rider Jack Miller in action during a practice session at the Motorcycling Grand Prix of the Czech Republic. The race will take place on 4 August
EPA
45/50 2 August 2019
An extremely rare Pink Meanie jellyfish on display at the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town. The Pink Meanie was discovered during a nightlight jellyfish dive by the collections team in the waters around Robben Island and in Cape Town Harbour. Pink Meanies are jellyvorous, meaning they feed on other jelly species by reeling them in with their long tentacles. Discovering the Pink Meanie in its early ephyra stage meant the team could study its growth rate which turned out to be very quick as it grew to the metaephyra stage in about a week and a half. The Mexican pink meanie (Drymonema larsoni) was only discovered in the year 2000. A Mediterranean relative, known as the Big Pink Jellyfish (Drymonema dalmatinum) has been known to science since the 1800s but when spotted in 2014 it had been almost 70 years since the last sighting. These jellies are incredibly rare and this new South African species is no exception
EPA
46/50 1 August 2019
Palestinian men breathe fire on the beach as entertainment for children during the summer vacation in Gaza City
AFP/Getty
47/50 31 July 2019
A woman rows a boat through the lotus plants on the waters of Dal Lake in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir. The lake is a popular tourist destination because of its floating gardens and lotus flower
EPA
48/50 30 July 2019
An effigy of demon Ghantakarna is burnt to symbolize the destruction of evil and belief to drive evil spirits and ghost, during the Ghantakarna festival at the ancient city of Bhaktapur, Nepal
Reuters
49/50 29 July 2019
Hundreds of hot air balloons take part in the Great Line at the Mondial Air Ballons festival, in an attempt to break the 2017 record of 456 balloons aligning in an hour during the biggest meeting in the world, in Chambley, France
Reuters
50/50 28 July 2019
Anti-extradition bill protesters with umbrellas attend a rally against the police brutality in Hong Kong
EPA
1/50 15 September 2019
People paddle on a stand-up board during sunrise in a beach in Larnaca, Cyprus
Reuters
2/50 14 September 2019
Mourners hold portraits of Zimbabwe’s late President Robert Mugabe as they attend a farewell ceremony at the National Sports Stadium in Harare. Mugabe died in Singapore on September 6 at the age of 95. He left Zimbabwe deeply divided over his legacy with his country still struggling with high inflation and shortages of goods after decades of crisis
AFP/Getty
3/50 13 September 2019
Rescue workers on a boat rescue a person stranded inside a flooded tunnel after heavy floods in Pilar de la Horadada, Spain
Reuters
4/50 12 September 2019
Police officers try to control the crowd after members of the public were invited to view Robert Mugabe’s body as it lies in state at the Rufaro stadium in Harare, Zimbabwe
Reuters
5/50 11 September 2019
A US flag hangs from a steel girder, damaged in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center at a memorial in Jersey City. It is the 18th anniversary of the attacks
AP
6/50 10 September 2019
Local actors dressed as ancient warriors re-enact a scene from the 7th century battle of Kerbala during a ceremony marking Ashura in Iraq
Reuters
7/50 9 September 2019
A firefighter assesses the fire spreading across land on Long Gully Road in the town of Drake, Australia. A number of homes have been destroyed by bushfires in New South Wales and Queensland
EPA
8/50 8 September 2019
Damaged homes after hurricane Dorian devastated Elbow Key Island in Hope Town, Bahamas. The hurricane hit the island chain as a category 5 storm and battered them for two days before moving north
Getty
9/50 7 September 2019
An artist performs on Tverskaya street during celebrations marking the 872nd anniversary of the city of Moscow
AFP/Getty
10/50 6 September 2019
Children play football next to a defaced portrait of Former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in Harare on the day he died, aged 95. The former leader was forced to resign in 2017, after a 37-year rule, whose early promise was eroded by economic turmoil, disputed elections and human rights violations, has died
AP
11/50 5 September 2019
Authorities work at the scene of a train crash in Yokohama, south of Tokyo. According to media reports, more than 30 people were injured after a train hit a track at a crossing
EPA
12/50 4 September 2019
A police office removes burning tires from the road, as protesters set up fires to block traffic along Airport Road in Abuja, Nigeria
Reuters
13/50 3 September 2019
A riot police officer throws a teargas canister as looters make off with goods from a store in Germiston, east of Johannesburg, South Africa. Police had earlier fired rubber bullets as they struggled to stop looters who targeted businesses as unrest broke out in several spots in and around the city
AP
14/50 2 September 2019
A boat off the island of Santa Cruz in California burns in the early hours of Monday morning. More than 30 people were on board the boat, which is thought to have been on a three-day diving trip
EPA
15/50 1 September 2019
Flowers are laid in a hole in a wall as people gather in the gym of a school, the scene of the hostage crisis, in memory of victims on the fifteenth anniversary of the tragedy in Beslan, North Ossetia region, Russia. More than 330 people, including 186 children, died as a result of the terrorist attack at the school
AP
16/50 31 August 2019
A man sits in front of riot officers during the rally 'Calling One Hundred Thousands Christians Praying for Hong Kong Sinners’ in Hong Kong, China
EPA
17/50 30 August 2019
A migrant forces his way into the Spanish territory of Ceuta. Over 150 migrants made their way into Ceuta after storming a barbed-wire border fence with Morocco
AFP/Getty
18/50
A beagle jumps through hoops during a show at the Pet Expo Championship 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand. Although the four-day expo is primarily dog oriented it features a wide array of stalls catering to pet owners’ needs as well as showcasing a variety of animals including reptiles, birds, ferrets, and rabbits
EPA
19/50 28 August 2019
Baby elephants rub their trunks against a tree at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya. Countries that are part of an international agreement on trade in endangered species agreed on Tuesday to limit the sale of wild elephants, delighting conservationists but dismaying some of the African countries involved
AP
20/50 27 August 2019
Burning rubbles in the market of Bouake, central Ivory Coast, after a fire broke overnight
AFP/Getty
21/50 26 August 2019
French President Emmanuel Macron gestures as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, second from left, sits between British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, left, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel as they take part in a meeting at the G7 Summit in Biarritz, France
The Canadian Press via AP
22/50 25 August 2019
A Brazillian Air Force jet drops water to fight a fire in the Amazon rainforest in the state of Rondonia, Brazil
EPA
23/50 24 August 2019
A police officer prepares to strike a protester as clashes erupt during a pro-democracy march in Hong Kong’s Kowloon Bay
AFP/Getty
24/50 23 August 2019
Oxfam activists in costumes depicting leaders of the G7 nations protest in Biarritz, France on the day before the summit is due to be held there
AFP/Getty
25/50 22 August 2019
A vendor sits as she sells models of the Hindu deity Krishna on display at a roadside ahead of the 'Janmashtami’ festival in Chennai
Getty
26/50 21 August 2019
A girl reacts next to Pope Francis as he leads the weekly general audience in Paul VI Hall at the Vatican
Reuters
27/50 20 August 2019
A masked dancer takes part in the Nil Barahi mask dance festival, an annual event during which dancers perform while posing as various deities that people worship to seek blessings, in Bode, Nepal
Reuters
28/50 19 August 2019
Protesters take to the street to face off with Indonesian police in Manokwari, Papua. The riots broke out, with a local parliament building being torched, as thousands protested allegations that police tear-gassed and arrested students who supported the restive region’s independence
AFP/Getty
29/50 18 August 2019
People survey the destruction after an overnight suicide bomb explosion that targeted a wedding reception in Kabul, Afghanistan. At least 63 people, mostly wedding guests from the Shi’ite Muslim community, were killed and more than 180 injured when a suicide bomber attacked a wedding hall
EPA
30/50 17 August 2019
A man retrieves his prize after climbing up a greased pole during a competition held as part of Independence Day celebrations at Ancol Beach in Jakarta. Indonesia is celebrating its 74th anniversary of independence from the Dutch colonial rule
AP
31/50 16 August 2019
Swiss pianist and composer Alain Roche plays piano suspended in the air at dawn during the 20th „Jeux du Castrum”, a multidisciplinary festival in Switzerland
AFP/Getty
32/50 15 August 2019
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako bow during a memorial service ceremony marking the 74th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War Two, in Tokyo, Japan
Reuters
33/50 14 August 2019
A woman walks with a Kashmir’s flag to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir, during a ceremony to celebrate Pakistan’s 72nd Independence Day at the Mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi, Pakistan
Reuters
34/50 13 August 2019
The extraordinary moment a volcano erupted, shooting luminous hot lava from the surface, as a lightning bolt striked the centre of the mountain. Photographer Martin Reitze, 55, captured rare images of volcanic ash escaping from the Ebeko volcano in Russia whilst the lightning froze the ash cloud in time. Martin, from Munich, was standing around a kilometre away from the northern crater of the volcano when it erupted. The volcano expert said: „The strong lightning which shows in the image is a very rare exception, as it was much stronger than usual.”
Martin Reitze/SWNS
35/50 12 August 2019
People swim in a public bath pool in Zalakaros, Hungary. Some regions of the country have been issued the highest grade of warning by the National Meteorological Service as the temperatures may reach 33-38 centigrade
EPA
36/50 11 August 2019
A pro-democracy protester is held by police outside Tsim Sha Tsui Police station during a demonstration against the controversial extradition bill in Hong Kong
AFP/Getty
37/50 10 August 2019
Muslim pilgrims make their way down on a rocky hill known as Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual hajj pilgrimage, near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia
AP
38/50 9 August 2019
Waves hit a sea wall in front of buildings in Taizhou, China’s eastern Zhejiang province. China issued a red alert for incoming Super Typhoon Lekima which is expected to batter eastern Zhejiang province early on August 10 with high winds and torrential rainfall
AFP/Getty
39/50 8 August 2019
A herder struggles with his flock across a motorway at the city cattle market, ahead of the Eid al-Adha in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Eid al-Adha is the holiest of the two Muslims holidays celebrated each year, it marks the yearly Muslim pilgrimage (Hajj) to visit Mecca, the holiest place in Islam. Muslims slaughter a sacrificial animal and split the meat into three parts, one for the family, one for friends and relatives, and one for the poor and needy
EPA
40/50 7 August 2019
Kazakh servicemen perform during a ceremony opening the International Army Games at the 40th military base Otar in Zhambyl Region, Kazakhstan
Reuters
41/50 6 August 2019
Paleontologist Naturalis Anne Schulp takes part in the construction of the skeleton of the Tyrannosaurus Rex called Trix in Naturalis in Leiden, The Netherlands. After a month-long tour of Europe, Trix is home in time for the opening of the new museum
AFP/Getty
42/50 5 August 2019
Flowers paying tribute to the eight-year-old boy who died after he was pushed under a train at Frankfurt am Main’s station. The horrific crime happened last week and has led politicians to call for heightened security
AFP/Getty
43/50 4 August 2019
Mourners take part in a vigil near the border fence between Mexico and the US after a mass shooting at a Walmart store in El Paso killed 20 people. The suspected gunman behind shooting is believed to be a 21-year-old white man called Patrick Crusius
Reuters
44/50 3 August 2019
Pramac Racing’s rider Jack Miller in action during a practice session at the Motorcycling Grand Prix of the Czech Republic. The race will take place on 4 August
EPA
45/50 2 August 2019
An extremely rare Pink Meanie jellyfish on display at the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town. The Pink Meanie was discovered during a nightlight jellyfish dive by the collections team in the waters around Robben Island and in Cape Town Harbour. Pink Meanies are jellyvorous, meaning they feed on other jelly species by reeling them in with their long tentacles. Discovering the Pink Meanie in its early ephyra stage meant the team could study its growth rate which turned out to be very quick as it grew to the metaephyra stage in about a week and a half. The Mexican pink meanie (Drymonema larsoni) was only discovered in the year 2000. A Mediterranean relative, known as the Big Pink Jellyfish (Drymonema dalmatinum) has been known to science since the 1800s but when spotted in 2014 it had been almost 70 years since the last sighting. These jellies are incredibly rare and this new South African species is no exception
EPA
46/50 1 August 2019
Palestinian men breathe fire on the beach as entertainment for children during the summer vacation in Gaza City
AFP/Getty
47/50 31 July 2019
A woman rows a boat through the lotus plants on the waters of Dal Lake in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir. The lake is a popular tourist destination because of its floating gardens and lotus flower
EPA
48/50 30 July 2019
An effigy of demon Ghantakarna is burnt to symbolize the destruction of evil and belief to drive evil spirits and ghost, during the Ghantakarna festival at the ancient city of Bhaktapur, Nepal
Reuters
49/50 29 July 2019
Hundreds of hot air balloons take part in the Great Line at the Mondial Air Ballons festival, in an attempt to break the 2017 record of 456 balloons aligning in an hour during the biggest meeting in the world, in Chambley, France
Reuters
50/50 28 July 2019
Anti-extradition bill protesters with umbrellas attend a rally against the police brutality in Hong Kong
EPA
State and federal health investigators have not yet determined a cause, but authorities are focusing on whether noxious chemicals have found their way into vaping supplies, perhaps from a flourishing nationwide black market of vaping products fuelled by online sales and lax regulation.
The bust this month in Wisconsin, where THC is illegal, offers an intimate look at the shadowy operations serving large numbers of teenagers and adults around the country who are using black-market vaping products, sometimes unknowingly because it is difficult to tell them apart from legitimate ones.
“When we walked in there, we were like: ‘Oh boy’,” said Captain Dan Baumann of the Waukesha Police Department. “This is what we were looking for, but we did not know it was this big.”
Key players in the operation, authorities said, were brothers barely into their 20s, Jacob and Tyler Huffhines, who lived in a small town nearby.
Both are now in custody at the Kenosha County Jail. More arrests and charges in the case are likely to follow, according to the police.
Investigators have not determined whether there is a connection between the Wisconsin operation and any of the cases of severe lung diseases linked to vaping.
But public health officials across the country, including Mitch Zeller, director of the Centre for Tobacco Products for the Food and Drug Administration, say that street-made vaping products should be avoided by all consumers and pose the greatest health risk.
Vaping works by heating liquid and turning it into vapour to be inhaled.
The original intent was to give smokers a way to satisfy their nicotine cravings without inhaling the carcinogens that come with burning tobacco.
But vaping devices and cartridges can be used to heat many substances, including cannabis-based oils, and some of the solvents used to dissolve them can present their own health problems.
Teenager hospitalised after vaping Adam Hergenreder says he has 'lungs of a 70-year-old’
But the move may expand underground demand for flavoured pods. And it does nothing to address the robust trade in illicit cannabis vaping products.
The Wisconsin operation is wholly characteristic of a “very advanced and mature illicit market for THC vape carts,” said David Downs, an expert in the marijuana trade and California bureau chief for Leafly, a website that offers news, information and reviews of cannabis products. (“Carts” is the common shorthand for cartridges.)
“These types of operations are integral to the distribution of contaminated THC-based vape carts in the United States,” Mr Downs said.
They are known as “pen factories”, playing a crucial middleman role: the operations buy empty vape cartridges and counterfeit packaging from Chinese factories, then fill them with THC liquid that they purchase from the US market.
Empty cartridges and packaging are also available on eBay, Alibaba and other e-commerce sites.
The filled cartridges are not by definition a health risk. However, Mr Downs, along with executives from legal THC companies and health officials, say that the illicit operations are using a tactic common to other illegal drug operations: cutting their product with other substances, including some that can be dangerous.
The motive is profit; an operation makes more money by using less of the core ingredient, THC – which is expensive – and diluting it with oils that cost considerably less.
Public health authorities said some cutting agents might be the cause of the lung illnesses and had homed in on a particular one, vitamin E acetate, an oil that could cause breathing problems and lung inflammation if it does not heat up fully during the vaping aerosolisation process.
Medium-grade THC can cost $4,000 (£3,200) a kilo and higher-grade THC costs double that, but additives may cost pennies on the dollar, said Chip Paul, a longtime vaping entrepreneur in Oklahoma who led the state’s drive to legalise medical marijuana there.
“That’s what they’re doing, They’re cutting this oil,” he said of illegal operations. “If I can cut it in half,” he described the thinking, “I can double my money.”
The black market products come packaged looking as the THC vaping products that are legal in some states do. Sometimes the packages are direct counterfeits of mass-market brands sold in places like California or Colorado, where THC is legal, and others just look the part.
“Someone would not recognise that this is not a legitimate product,” said Dr Howard Zucker, commissioner of the New York State Department of Health, adding that this is a tremendous risk.
“The counterfeit handbag you buy on the corner is not going to kill you but the counterfeit vaping device you buy has a chance to kill you,” he said.
In Wisconsin, the neatly packaged vaping devices had logos such as Dabwoods, Chronic Sour Patch and Dank King Louie. Police say the Huffhines operation produced close to 3,000 cartridges a day; cartridges sell for around $35 (£28) to $40 (£32).
A lawyer for Tyler Huffhines declined to comment.
Wisconsin police say they were stunned by the scope and ambition of the Huffhines operation, and only beginning to understand how far it might have reached.
It was a teenager in nearby Waukesha whose actions eventually led police to the operation in Bristol, a town just miles from the Illinois border.
That teenager’s parents discovered that he was vaping and brought him to the police station in Waukesha. He then told police where he got his vaping supplies; authorities traced the sellers step by step, and several degrees of separation later, they were led to the Huffhines brothers.