Police in Kent County seize illegal tobacco and e-cigarettes

Aug.07.2024
Police in Kent County seize illegal tobacco and e-cigarettes
Kent police raided eight shops in Gravesend, uncovering illegal e-cigarettes, untaxed cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and tobacco hidden in secret compartments.

According to a report by the BBC on August 6th, Kent Police discovered illegal e-cigarettes, untaxed cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and tobacco in eight shops in Gravesend, England.

Police in Kent County seize illegal tobacco and e-cigarettes
Gravesend Eight shops discovered illegal e-cigarettes, untaxed cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and tobacco. Image source: Kent Police Department.


These illegal items were found hidden behind a false wall and in other concealed areas of the store.


On Monday (5th), Kent Police, Kent Trading Standards, and the licensing department of Gravesham Borough Council conducted surprise inspections of these shops.


A police spokesperson stated that the authorities seized 881 illegal e-cigarettes, 44,180 illegal cigarettes, 126 nicotine pouches, and 8.65 kilograms of tobacco, as well as 103 packets of shisha.


Police Inspector Kirsty Dunne stated that...


This operation demonstrates the severity of the issue and the 'extreme measures' people take to avoid being caught. Selling illegal cigarettes and tobacco poses serious health risks to consumers and hinders law-abiding businesses.


In June, according to survey data released by Vape Superstore, one third of e-cigarettes sold in the UK between January 1st and February 29th 2023 did not meet regulations. Kent County Council confiscated the highest number of illegal e-cigarettes in the UK, totaling 431,005. Many of these illegal e-cigarettes entered through the European tunnel terminals and the port of Dover.


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

Australia’s NSW Finds Lower Vaping Rates Among Teenagers Aged 14 to 17
Australia’s NSW Finds Lower Vaping Rates Among Teenagers Aged 14 to 17
A new report from Cancer Council’s Generation Vape research project shows that fewer teenagers in New South Wales are trying vaping after the state government introduced tougher vaping goods laws. Among surveyed NSW teenagers aged 14 to 17, the proportion who had tried vaping fell from 29.6% in April 2024 to 20.1% in October 2025.
Mar.17 by 2FIRSTS.ai
UK Bill Banning Tobacco Sales to People Born After 2008 Clears Parliament
UK Bill Banning Tobacco Sales to People Born After 2008 Clears Parliament
A UK bill banning the legal sale of tobacco to people born on or after January 1, 2009 has completed its passage through parliament. Under the bill, those born in that group will never be able to be legally sold tobacco anywhere in the UK. The legislation is expected to receive royal assent next week. It also gives ministers powers to strengthen public-place smoking restrictions and restricts branding, promotion and advertising of vape and nicotine products aimed at children.
Apr.22 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Spain’s Nicotine Pouch Sales Reached 5 Million Cans in 2025, Industry Says 2026 Could Hit 8 Million
Spain’s Nicotine Pouch Sales Reached 5 Million Cans in 2025, Industry Says 2026 Could Hit 8 Million
Spain’s Nicotine Pouch Association said nicotine pouch sales in Spain reached 5 million cans of 20 units in 2025 and are expected to rise 60% to 8 million in 2026. The group said there are currently 20 to 30 brands on the Spanish market and called for regulation proportionate to product risk. It also opposed a proposal to reduce nicotine content to 0.99 mg per pouch, saying it would amount to a de facto ban on the category.
Mar.19 by 2FIRSTS.ai
European Commission Publishes Tobacco Control Framework Evaluation, Says Smoking and Tobacco-Related Deaths Have Declined
European Commission Publishes Tobacco Control Framework Evaluation, Says Smoking and Tobacco-Related Deaths Have Declined
The European Commission has published its evaluation of the EU tobacco control framework, assessing the effectiveness, efficiency and relevance of the Tobacco Products Directive and Tobacco Advertising Directive in protecting public health and ensuring the smooth functioning of the internal market.
Apr.03 by 2FIRSTS.ai
JTI Korea Rebrands Ploom Sticks to “EVO,” Launches 8 Variants
JTI Korea Rebrands Ploom Sticks to “EVO,” Launches 8 Variants
JTI Korea said it will rebrand the dedicated stick line for its heated tobacco device Ploom, changing the name from “Mebius for Ploom” to “EVO.”
Mar.10 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Special Report| War continues to shape the Ukrainian tobacco market
Special Report| War continues to shape the Ukrainian tobacco market
Four years into the war, Ukraine’s tobacco market is being reshaped by stress-driven consumption, tax pressure, youth e-cigarette use and a growing illicit segment. Surveys point to rising tobacco and nicotine product use, while higher excise duties and shadow trade are adding new complexity to the market.
Apr.17