Police Seize £166,000 Worth of Illegal Tobacco and E-cigarettes

Regulations by 2FIRSTS.ai
Apr.07.2024
Police Seize £166,000 Worth of Illegal Tobacco and E-cigarettes
A police raid in Devon, UK seized £166,000 worth of illegal tobacco and e-cigarette products. Authorities urge public cooperation.

According to a recent report by the BBC, the police in Devon, England, discovered illegal tobacco and e-cigarette products worth £166,000 (approximately $209,000) in a raid. The authorities seized over 18,000 illegal tobacco products and 2,000 illegal e-cigarettes.

 

The operation was carried out jointly by the Trade Standards Bureau and the local community police in South Hams, and included counterfeit products, untaxed tobacco products, and e-cigarettes that did not meet UK standards.

 

The police inspector Ben Shardlow stated, "These illegal goods have not undergone the standardized safety testing and quality control procedures like legitimate products sold in the UK. This means we cannot know what these products actually contain." He also urged the public to report any suspected illegal activities to the police."

 

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

Philippine Lawmakers Push Bill to Close Vape Tax Loopholes
Philippine Lawmakers Push Bill to Close Vape Tax Loopholes
Lawmakers in the Philippines are pushing House Bill 5207 (HB 5207), which seeks to harmonize excise tax rates on vapor products and address disparities between nicotine salt and freebase nicotine taxation. The bill, supported by more than 40 lawmakers including Deputy Speaker Kristine Singson-Meehan, would raise taxes on freebase nicotine products to align them with nicotine salt rates.
Regulations
Feb.22
Study: Links between internalizing mental health symptoms and nicotine/tobacco use vary by gender identity among U.S. adolescents
Study: Links between internalizing mental health symptoms and nicotine/tobacco use vary by gender identity among U.S. adolescents
A study using 2020–2023 U.S. data from the ITC Youth Tobacco and Vaping Survey (ages 16–19) reports that both nicotine/tobacco use and internalizing mental health (IMH) symptoms vary across disaggregated gender identities, and that gender identity moderates the relationship between IMH symptoms and product use.
Feb.27 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Six Years of Data Show FDA Clearing PMTA Backlog
Six Years of Data Show FDA Clearing PMTA Backlog
FDA data from FY2020 to FY2025 show how the PMTA system for e-cigarette products evolved after an early surge of submissions created prolonged front-end delays. Millions of applications accumulated at the Acceptance stage before entering substantive review. Since 2023, the number of applications pending acceptance has declined sharply, and industry participants report shorter initial decision timelines in late 2025.
Feb.06
Philip Morris and BAT’s Nicoventures Win EPO Appeal to Revoke VMR Vape Patent
Philip Morris and BAT’s Nicoventures Win EPO Appeal to Revoke VMR Vape Patent
The EPO Technical Board of Appeal 3.2.02 (T 1319/24) revoked VMR Products LLC’s EP3613453 “VAPORIZER” patent after finding that a 2012 YouTube video of the Innokin iTaste VV (D3) disclosed the claimed electrical contact arrangement. Opponents Nicoventures Trading Ltd (BAT subsidiary) and Philip Morris Products S.A. prevailed.
BATPMI
Feb.17
Multi-agency crackdown targets vape and convenience stores across Wirral, seizing illegal cigarettes and non-compliant pods
Multi-agency crackdown targets vape and convenience stores across Wirral, seizing illegal cigarettes and non-compliant pods
A multi-agency, intelligence-led enforcement operation took place on January 27, 2026, targeting vape and convenience stores across Wirral, including West Kirby, to disrupt the supply of illegal tobacco and vaping products. Six premises were inspected, with approximately 10,500 illegal cigarettes seized along with vape pods that were not in original packaging or did not meet UK regulatory requirements.
Feb.05 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Indonesian vape retailers’ association tells members to halt sales to under-21 customers
Indonesian vape retailers’ association tells members to halt sales to under-21 customers
The Indonesian Vape Retailers Association (Arvindo) has instructed all member stores to stop selling electronic cigarettes to customers under 21. Arvindo said it issued an official circular requiring vape shops to display 21+ signage and to ask customers for valid identification.
Feb.26