Birmingham City Council seizes millions worth of illegal goods

Jan.23.2025
Birmingham City Council seizes millions worth of illegal goods
Birmingham City Council seizes nearly £6 million worth of illegal e-cigarettes and tobacco products.

According to a report by Birmingham Mail on January 21st, the Birmingham City Council recently seized e-cigarettes, tobacco, and other goods worth nearly £6 million.


Since its launch in September 2024, the city council has seized nearly £5.7 million worth of goods from stores across the city, including 10,374 illegal e-cigarettes, 236 large bottles of nitrous oxide and related materials, 18,916 packs of cigarettes (totaling 378,320 cigarettes), 2,730 packs of tobacco, class B drugs, 187 packs of unlicensed snuff, and thousands of unlicensed pills.


Nicky Brennan, a cabinet member responsible for social justice, community safety, and equality affairs, stated:


There is cause for concern as we have now discovered that e-cigarettes can deliver up to over 18,000 puffs, far exceeding the legal limit of 600 puffs for 2 milligrams of nicotine. The use of illegal e-cigarettes by young people can jeopardize their long-term health, and in recent months we have already seen some alarming consequences. We will continue to work with the West Midlands County police to crack down on illegal sales.


We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

Alan Zhao: What Altria’s on! PLUS Authorization Really Signals About FDA PMTA Enforcement
Alan Zhao: What Altria’s on! PLUS Authorization Really Signals About FDA PMTA Enforcement
In this in-depth commentary for 2Firsts, Alan Zhao examines what Altria’s on! PLUS authorization really signals about FDA PMTA enforcement. Beyond the headline approval, FDA’s language, process design and product choices offer rare insight into how nicotine pouch regulation is taking shape—and what it means for industry compliance, in one of the earliest expert reads of the decision.
Regulations
Dec.20 by 2Firsts Perspectives
IQOS UK unveils 2026 pop-up events plan, first stops set for London and three other cities
IQOS UK unveils 2026 pop-up events plan, first stops set for London and three other cities
IQOS’ UK website shows the company will roll out time-limited pop-up experience spaces across Britain in 2026 for adult consumers. The first confirmed locations are London, the West Midlands area near Birmingham, Manchester and Romford, offering product demonstrations, pop-up-only promotions and nicotine pouch sampling. Entry will be restricted to those aged 18 and over, with “Challenge 25” ID checks in place.
Feb.03 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Exclusive | EU Confirms End of Tobacco Policy Expert Group, Explores New Cooperation Structures as TPD Revision Continues
Exclusive | EU Confirms End of Tobacco Policy Expert Group, Explores New Cooperation Structures as TPD Revision Continues
2Firsts reporting shows that, as the European Union moves toward a future evaluation of its tobacco legislation, the Tobacco Policy Expert Group—long a key platform for coordination among Member States—formally concluded its mandate at the end of 2025. At the same time, the European Commission is exploring new cooperation structures to address the resulting institutional gap.
Jan.22
Kentucky to issue provisional state licenses to tobacco, nicotine and vapor retailers who applied before Jan. 1, 2026
Kentucky to issue provisional state licenses to tobacco, nicotine and vapor retailers who applied before Jan. 1, 2026
Kentucky will issue provisional state licenses to tobacco, nicotine and vapor product retailers that applied for a license with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) before Jan. 1, 2026.
Dec.31 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Philippine FDA Requires Licenses for Vape Products with Medical Claims
Philippine FDA Requires Licenses for Vape Products with Medical Claims
The Philippine Food and Drug Administration has announced that establishments selling vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products and novel tobacco products with medicinal or therapeutic claims must secure Licenses to Operate. Such products are also required to be registered as pharmaceutical products through the Center for Drug Regulation and Research. The FDA urged stakeholders to comply with the new requirements to ensure product safety, efficacy and quality.
Dec.22 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Mexico’s ENCODAT 2025 finds smoking rate falls as vaping rises
Mexico’s ENCODAT 2025 finds smoking rate falls as vaping rises
Results from Mexico’s ENCODAT 2025 indicate a structural shift in tobacco and nicotine use: past-month combustible tobacco use among the general population (ages 12–65) declined to 15.1%, down from 17.6% in 2016, while past-month e-cigarette use increased to 2.6%, up from 1.1%.
Dec.25 by 2FIRSTS.ai