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

#Traditional tobacco #Asia #Market #China #UK #E-cigarette #E-cigarettes and Tobacco #The United Kingdom #Illegal e-cigarettes

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.

2Firsts Observation｜VELO at Stockholm Arlanda: Travel-Centric Messaging and Full-Line Flavour Presentation

2Firsts observed at Stockholm Arlanda Airport that British American Tobacco’s VELO positions the airport environment as a core marketing scenario, deploying large-format LED displays, a full flavour matrix, and clear nicotine-strength segmentation. The brand also features an instructional “How to Use VELO” section and multi-pack sales strategy, showcasing its systematic merchandising capabilities in the Nordic travel-retail channel.

Nov.19 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Ireland Implements 50c per ml Tax on E-Liquids Starting Nov 1

From November 1, 2025, Ireland introduces a new E-liquid Products Tax (EPT), adding €0.50 per millilitre to all e-liquid products, including nicotine-free types. Signed into law by Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe, the measure targets youth vaping and requires suppliers to register with Revenue and pay duty at import, manufacturing, or distribution.

Nov.03 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Australian Border Force Seizes 586M Cigarettes and 3M Vapes in Record First Quarter

Australian Border Force (ABF), 586 million cigarettes and over 3 million vapes were seized at Australia’s international border in the first quarter of the 2024–25 financial year (July 1–September 30), marking a continued upward trend over the past two years. Enhanced intelligence and data-sharing have enabled ABF to target suspicious consignments more effectively across all entry points.

Oct.24 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Spain's Socialist Party proposes gradual decrease of nicotine pouch tax rate to 0.10 euros/gram by 2030

Spain’s Socialist Party (PSOE) has submitted a legal amendment to the Congress proposing a gradual reduction of the excise duty on nicotine pouches. The current rate of €0.10 per gram would be phased in progressively until 2030. The plan sets the rate at €0.02/g in 2026, rising by €0.02 annually until reaching €0.10/g in 2030. PSOE says this measure would mitigate price shocks and make the tax system more progressive.

Nov.04 by 2FIRSTS.ai