According to the Hampshire Chronicle, a British media outlet, the Hampshire County Council recently reported that they had seized nearly 16,000 illegal e-cigarettes within a 14-month period, ranking eighth in the country for the total number of seizures.
The Vape Superstore company has submitted a freedom of information request to local governments across the UK, asking about the number of illegal e-cigarettes seized from January 1, 2023, to February 29, 2024. Each month, the UK police seize hundreds of thousands of illegal e-cigarettes in raids on black market vendors.
It is estimated that around one-third of e-cigarettes currently being sold in the UK do not meet regulations. This number is expected to significantly increase by the year 2025, following the implementation of a ban on disposable e-cigarette use.
In Hampshire, the county council seized a total of 15,999 e-cigarettes, ranking the county eighth in the number of illegal e-cigarettes confiscated. The highest number of confiscations was in Kent, where a total of 431,005 e-cigarettes were seized.
David Phillips of Vape Superstore stated:
Although e-cigarettes can be an effective method for quitting smoking, the influx of a large number of illegal e-cigarettes into the market has created a dangerous black market, and consumers are not always aware of this. Our research shows that the problem of illegal e-cigarette black market is very serious across the whole UK, especially in counties such as Kent, Lancashire, Anglesey, and Swansea. We believe that as long as consumers are aware of the harm of these products, they can make more informed purchasing decisions in the future.
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
