New data shows illegal vapes originating from China account for the majority of e-cigarettes used by U.S. middle and high schoolers, sparking concerns in law enforcement experts.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last week released its latest analysis of e-cigarette use among middle and high school students. While the CDC found that e-cigarette use is down by 1.8%, the data also shows young users are seeking out Chinese-owned brands brought into the country illegally.

The top three e-cigarettes used by middle and high schoolers are Elf Bar, Breeze and Mr. Fog, each of which are Chinese-owned, according to the CDC. None of the three brands are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the agency has previously issued warning letters to retailers regarding unauthorized sales of each.

The three brands together made up more than 70% of youth e-cigarette use reported in the CDC analysis.

The illicit e-cigarettes, also known as vapes, are often made appealing to teenagers with fruity flavors and packaging resembling school supplies, like highlighters. Richard Marianos, a law enforcement consultant who served in the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for nearly three decades, says young people tend to use the products to achieve “social status.”

“Right now, in the underbelly of organized crime, the Chinese are making close to $300 billion a year on the backs of our kids and our communities,” Marianos said. “Why aren’t we doing something about it?”

Marianos said tackling the crisis will take a “unified, holistic approach” involving families, school officials and both local and federal government. He called on the FDA and ATF specifically to get involved, noting the latter’s involvement is warranted regardless of whether the products are direct tobacco products.

It’s high-value targets in terms of organized crime, it’s a national security issue, and they’re preying on our greatest resources, which are our children,” he said. “And if that can’t get somebody’s interest, why are you in office in the first place?”

The FDA, along with the Department of Justice, announced in June the creation of a federal task force to curb sales of illegal e-cigarettes. A spokesperson for the FDA said the task force is designed to “streamline” the efforts of multiple agencies, including the ATF.

A press release regarding the task force acknowledged the significant number of middle and high schoolers using e-cigarettes daily. Stefan Bjes, a former Illinois school resource officer and retired patrol sergeant, finds the trend of use particularly disturbing.

Bjes told CITC his schools a decade ago faced as little as one or two incidents involving e-cigarettes per year, but that figure now tops 300 nationwide.

“I think we need to realize that we can’t discipline our way out of this,” he said. “They key component is the education component. I think having parents understand the magnitude of this problem is very important.”

Education starts early, though. If we’re doing this in junior high, we’re already too late,” Bjes added.

The FDA, during a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing Tuesday, faced accusations of “misaligned priorities” by failing to approve “less harmful alternatives” to traditional cigarettes in a timely fashion. Rep. Richard Hudson, a North Carolina Republican, claimed inaction by the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products has enabled the “illicit market” to form.

Brian King, the director of the Center for Tobacco Products, said the agency has “an array of enforcement tools” at its disposal and is “committed to using them as appropriate.”

“We will not stand by as bad actors place profit over the health of our nation’s youth,” King said.

The FDA last month also finalized a rule raising the minimum age for certain restrictions on tobacco product sales to 21. Beginning Sept. 30, retailers will be required to verify the age of any customers under 30 seeking to buy tobacco products.

FOX45 reached out to the ATF for comment, but did not receive a response.