Birmingham City Council seizes millions worth of illegal goods

Jan.23

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.

References:

[1] 'Biggest raid in Birmingham' among council's £5.7million crackdown on vapes, cigarettes and drugs

Also Read:

[1] UK Government Issues Guidance on Disposable E-cigarette Ban

[3] UKVIA Expresses Disappointment Over UK Tobacco and E-cigarette Act Hearing

[4] Study Shows E-Cigarette Sales in UK Increased Ninefold in Three Years, Bringing Four Times the Profit to Convenience Stores

[5] 2024 E-Cigarette Flavor Trends and Consumer Behavior Impact

#Europe #Law enforcement #Open system e-cigarettes #United Kingdom

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

EUIPO Rejects Imiracle’s Opposition to ‘Crystal’ Trademark, Citing Lack of Proof of Actual Use in Slovakia

The EUIPO has ruled that Imiracle failed to demonstrate actual commercial use of its “Elfbar Crystal” brand in Slovakia, and therefore rejected in full the company’s opposition to Shenzhen SKE Technology’s application to register the “Crystal” trademark. The EUIPO noted that the sales records submitted by Imiracle were limited in scope and that the product packaging was in Ukrainian, which it found insufficient to prove that the products had been placed on the Slovak market.

Dec.10 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Tajikistan Signals Plan to Ban Use, Production and Circulation of E-Cigarettes

According to Kazinform, Tajikistan addressed the issue of electronic cigarettes during the fourth session of the Majlisi Milli, stating a position to prohibit the use, production, and circulation of e-cigarettes. Chairman Rustam Emomali emphasized that the position aims to protect public health and prevent negative impacts on youth and adolescents.

Dec.16 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Israel Proposes E-Cigarette Tax Reform Expected to Raise 154 million USD Shekels Annually

Israel’s Finance Ministry has proposed a 2026 economic reform introducing new taxes and licensing for e-cigarettes. The plan would impose a NIS 1-per-ml tax on vape liquids and NIS 30 per device, abolish VAT exemptions in Eilat, and is expected to generate about NIS 500 million（154 million USD） annually.

Nov.10 by 2FIRSTS.ai

South Korea Implements Public Tobacco Harmfulness Management Program, Including 22 Harmful Components in E-Cigarettes

South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety convened the first 2025 Tobacco Harmfulness Management Policy Committee, finalizing new lists of harmful substances for cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and liquid e-cigarettes to be publicly disclosed from next year.