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

PMI Oral Products Chief Says Lack of Rules May Push Nicotine Pouch Market Into Illicit Trade
PMI Oral Products Chief Says Lack of Rules May Push Nicotine Pouch Market Into Illicit Trade
Nick Ricketts, President of Oral Products at Philip Morris International (PMI), told Logos Press that nicotine pouches should be brought under clear regulatory frameworks covering nicotine limits, flavor rules, age verification, sales controls and marketing standards, arguing that the absence of clear rules or blanket bans may push consumer demand into illegal or semi-legal channels.
Jul.06
China Tobacco Yunnan Patent Describes Cigar Flavor Granules With Encapsulation Rate Above 77%
China Tobacco Yunnan Patent Describes Cigar Flavor Granules With Encapsulation Rate Above 77%
According to public records from China’s National Intellectual Property Administration, a patent application filed by China Tobacco Yunnan Industrial Co., Ltd. for “cigar flavor granules” was published on May 12, 2026. The filing proposes purifying an ethanol extract of cigar tobacco leaves using LX-8 macroporous resin, followed by encapsulation with maltodextrin and sucrose fatty acid ester to improve smoking comfort, reduce dryness and enhance aroma release stability in reconstituted tobacco.
Jun.10
BAT Shares Surge Nearly 6% as FDA Policy Shift Eases Pressure on Vuse and Velo
BAT Shares Surge Nearly 6% as FDA Policy Shift Eases Pressure on Vuse and Velo
British American Tobacco (BAT) shares rose sharply on May 12 after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration signaled it would deprioritize enforcement against certain unauthorized e-cigarette and nicotine pouch products with accepted premarket applications. Investors viewed the move as favoring established players such as BAT’s Vuse and Velo brands.
BAT
May.13
FDA Tobacco Center Pushes Review-Efficiency Statement After Commissioner’s Exit
FDA Tobacco Center Pushes Review-Efficiency Statement After Commissioner’s Exit
FDA CTP issued a May 7 statement on accelerating product review and improving PMTA efficiency, but did not push it via official X and newsletter until May 13, one day after FDA Commissioner Marty Makary’s resignation was confirmed. FDA has not explained the delay, and no public evidence links it directly to the leadership change. The timing is notable given CTP’s usual 24-hour distribution practice.
Special Report
May.14
Illegal Vape Retailers in UK Could Face 12-Month Shutdowns
Illegal Vape Retailers in UK Could Face 12-Month Shutdowns
The UK government plans to expand police and trading standards powers by extending closure orders for shops selling illegal vapes and cigarettes from a maximum of six months to 12 months, in a crackdown on organised crime on high streets.
Jun.12
BAT Estimates U.S. Unauthorized Vape Market at $9.4 Billion, Plans New Vuse and Velo Launches After FDA Enforcement Shift
BAT Estimates U.S. Unauthorized Vape Market at $9.4 Billion, Plans New Vuse and Velo Launches After FDA Enforcement Shift
British American Tobacco (BAT) CEO Tadeu Marroco said the U.S. unauthorized vape market is worth about £7 billion, or US$9.43 billion. Following a shift in FDA enforcement policy, BAT plans to launch flavored Vuse products in the third quarter and an updated Velo pouch in August or September.
Jun.15