The crackdown sounds big however consultants say it is the “tip of the iceberg” with an enormous black market throughout the nation
Unlawful vapes are flooding UK excessive streets (Picture: AP)
Nearly 5 million unlawful vapes on the market in UK outlets have been seized over the previous three years – equal to 3 each minute. The most recent annual Unlawful Vapes and Nicotine Product Report has revealed the astonishing quantity being offered with a avenue worth of £39 million.
The nationwide knowledge assortment noticed 1.3 million seized final yr, based on UK council knowledge. The figures reveal the nation’s unlawful vape hotspots, the place the black market is undermining official enterprise homeowners. Greater than half (55%) of UK council areas have seized hundreds of unlawful merchandise during the last yr.
The info, gathered from a freedom of knowledge (FOI) request from native councils throughout the UK, was carried out by the UK’s largest on-line vaping retailer, Vape Membership, as a part of its annual Unlawful Vapes and Nicotine Product Report. Following the report, business leaders referred to as on the federal government to “get a grip of the difficulty and put the proper framework in place” because the Tobacco and Vapes Invoice undergoes the Report Stage within the Home of Lords.
Unlawful vapes hit official companies (Picture: Getty Photographs)
Nearly 5 million unlawful vapes seized prior to now three years – equal to 3 being discovered ever (Picture: -)
Central Bedfordshire Council leads nationwide with 345,718 unlawful vapes seized — a threefold rise, attributed partly to its proximity to Luton Airport, as illicit imports shift away from Heathrow. The London Borough of Hillingdon, which borders Heathrow, has the best seizures cumulatively over three years however noticed a drop in 2025, suggesting the black market is adapting its routes.
Kent stays a major hotspot, with Dover, Eurotunnel and the Dartford parcel hub all recognized by the council as key entry factors.
The North West additionally continues to be one of many UK’s largest hotspots for unlawful vapes, with Manchester, Liverpool and Bolton collectively seizing over 322,000 unlawful vapes in 2025 — Bolton’s 467% year-on-year enhance is an indicator that the area’s black market exhibits no indicators of slowing.
He added: “The UKVIA has lengthy been calling for a vape retail and distributor licensing scheme which would offer upwards of £50m a yr to fund Buying and selling Requirements in order that they’ve extra assets to sort out unlawful vape gross sales.
“Buying and selling Requirements groups up and down the nation want extra funding and vape licensing may present the income to hit unlawful gross sales arduous. Sturdy enforcement backed up by £10,000 fines for many who break the regulation is one of the best ways to sort out this subject as soon as and for all.”
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