Nassau County and Orange County seized more than 28,000 pounds of “illicit vapor products” after a three-month investigation connected to a major Buffalo-area distributor, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Thursday.

According to the governor, the investigation found that Ecto World, the distributor also known as Demand Vape, has been “illegally shipping massive quantities of vape products to sub-distributors and unlicensed retail shops across the state” – which included large shipments to Long Island and the Hudson Valley.

She said that the “sub-distributors and unlicensed retail shops fall outside the narrow categories of businesses to which distributors may ship vapor products within New York state.”

“Illicit vape products pose serious risks to the health of New Yorkers, especially our youth,” said Hochul in a prepared statement. “This seizure is a major victory for public safety and a clear message that New York will not tolerate illegal operations that put our communities at risk.”

Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus thanked the governor and law enforcement in a statement.

“Actions like this help protect public health, particularly for young people and ensure that products being distributed across our region meet the standards New Yorkers expect,” he said.

A release from the governor said that criminal charges would be pursued by Nassau and Orange counties district attorney’s offices. Nassau County police told News 12 that the investigation is ongoing.

The governor said that 25 pallets weighing nearly 26,000 and “more than 570 boxes of illicit vapor products” were seized by NCPD “with support” from the Nassau County Department of Health. In Orange County, 2,761 pounds on two pallets and more than 60 boxes were seized by the Town of Montgomery Police Department and the county’s health department.