Illegal E-Cigarette Seizures in the UK Soaring; Authorities Crack Down

Industry Insight by 2FIRSTS.ai
Jun.28.2023
Illegal E-Cigarette Seizures in the UK Soaring; Authorities Crack Down
BBC reports authorities in Dover Port, UK has seized nearly 500,000 illegal e-cigarettes since the beginning of the year. Law enforcement officers recently seized 13,000 e-cigarettes containing nicotine e-liquid in excess of the allowed capacity. Customs and the MHRA have conducted strict inspections at Heathrow Airport, confiscating illegal e-cigarette products. UK authorities have seized a total of 2.5 million illegal e-cigarettes since early 2020.

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reports on June 28th, nearly 500,000 illegal e-cigarettes have been seized in the port of Dover, United Kingdom since the beginning of this year.

 

Law enforcement officials in Doverport have seized 13,000 e-cigarettes containing e-liquid containing nicotine, with a capacity exceeding the regulated limit by nine times within a week. According to UK law, e-cigarettes are restricted to a maximum e-liquid capacity of 2ml, equivalent to approximately 600 puffs. However, these illicit products were found to provide over 10,000 puffs, surpassing the legal capacity by more than tenfold.

 

In addition, on June 27th, an informant revealed to 2FIRSTS that UK customs, in collaboration with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), conducted a strict inspection of a large number of e-cigarette products at Heathrow Airport (LHR Airport). The informant stated, "The inspection was very thorough, and any products found were immediately confiscated with no opportunity for recourse." They further explained that a joint enforcement operation had already taken place in March this year between the MHRA and customs at LHR Airport, resulting in the seizure of numerous products.

 

According to a previous report by The Guardian, after compiling public information from 125 local governments in the UK, it has been found that the UK Trading Standards Department has seized around 2.5 million illegal e-cigarettes since the beginning of 2020.

 

References:

 

Kent officials issue alert over illegal vapes amid rise in underage vaping

 

This document has been generated through artificial intelligence translation and is provided solely for the purposes of industry discourse and learning. Please note that the intellectual property rights of the content belong to the original media source or author. Owing to certain limitations in the translation process, there may be discrepancies between the translated text and the original content. We recommend referring to the original source for complete accuracy. In case of any inaccuracies, we invite you to reach out to us with corrections. If you believe any content has infringed upon your rights, please contact us immediately for its removal.

Smoore’s Q3 Revenue Hits Record High, Reflecting Structural Growth in Global HNB and E-Vapor Markets
Smoore’s Q3 Revenue Hits Record High, Reflecting Structural Growth in Global HNB and E-Vapor Markets
Smoore posted record-high Q3 2025 revenue, driven by growth in both HNB and e-vapor segments, reflecting ongoing expansion of the global next-generation tobacco industry amid compliance and structural upgrades.
Oct.12
Kyrgyzstan considers six-month ban on e-cigarette and e-cigarettee-liquid imports
Kyrgyzstan considers six-month ban on e-cigarette and e-cigarettee-liquid imports
According to Kyrgyz media, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce has launched a public discussion on a draft decree proposing a six-month ban on the import of e-cigarettes and nicotine-containing liquids. The measure, based on Article 15-1 of the Law “On Protecting Citizens’ Health from the Consequences of Tobacco and Nicotine Use,” aims to safeguard public health and prevent youth nicotine addiction.
Nov.12 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Thai Police Seize 48,000 Illegal E-Cigarettes Worth About $630,000
Thai Police Seize 48,000 Illegal E-Cigarettes Worth About $630,000
Acting on directives from senior government and police officials, Thai authorities seized 48,301 e-cigarettes and related products in central Thailand, valued at about 20 million baht (approximately US$630,000), as part of a crackdown on illegal vaping.
Oct.15 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Following Japan debut, IQOS ILUMA i “Seletti Edition” limited series launches in South Korea.
Following Japan debut, IQOS ILUMA i “Seletti Edition” limited series launches in South Korea.
Philip Morris International (PMI) Korea announced a collaboration with Italian design brand Seletti to launch the IQOS ILUMA i limited “Seletti Edition.” Pre-sales begin on the 29th at IQOS.com for IQOS Club Gold and Platinum members, with sales from the 30th via the website and nine IQOS-owned stores nationwide. PMI previously said the series would debut in Japan first before rolling out to 13 global travel-retail markets.
Oct.29 by 2FIRSTS.ai
PMI Q3 2025 Earnings: Net Revenues Reach $10.85 Billion, Smoke-Free Products Account for 41% of Sales
PMI Q3 2025 Earnings: Net Revenues Reach $10.85 Billion, Smoke-Free Products Account for 41% of Sales
PMI reported strong third-quarter 2025 results, underscoring the continued success of its smoke-free transformation. Net revenues rose 9.4% year-over-year to $10.85 billion, driven by robust growth in the smoke-free segment, which now accounts for 41% of total net revenues and over 42% of gross profit.Despite a 3.2% decline in cigarette shipments, combustible revenues climbed 4.3% thanks to strong pricing.
Oct.21
Heaven Gifts’s HNB Brand REJO Launches New Device with Design Strikingly Similar to ELFBAR JOINOne Series
Heaven Gifts’s HNB Brand REJO Launches New Device with Design Strikingly Similar to ELFBAR JOINOne Series
Miracle’s heated tobacco brand REJO has launched its new device REJO CUBE in Dubai. The device’s industrial design is highly similar to the ELFBAR JOINOne series, featuring a left-right magnetic structure and side-mounted screen. Positioning the Middle East as a key market, REJO is moving ahead with local team building and entity setup in the region.
Nov.14 by 2FIRSTS.ai