Ripon Shop Fined After Selling Illegal High-Nicotine Vapes Equal to “50 Packs”in the UK

Sep.08

A Ripon retailer and its director were prosecuted after trading standards officers uncovered hundreds of illegal disposable vapes with nicotine volumes far above U.K. limits. Barlick Megatronic Mobiles Ltd (trading as Phonefix) and director Humayoun Khan pleaded guilty at York Magistrates’ Court on Sept. 4, 2025. Officers seized 654 illegal vapes in February 2024, then bought another unlawful device during an October follow-up. While the dissolved company avoided a corporate penalty, Khan was fi

Key Points

• Guilty pleas to multiple offences: oversized nicotine volume, improper labelling, and possession of illegal products for sale.

• Seizure & test purchase: 654 illegal vapes seized (Feb 2024); another illegal device purchased in Oct 2024.

• Puff counts: device with 10,000 puffs (~50 packs’ worth of nicotine) and 9,000 puffs (~45 packs); 430 seized vapes ranged 4,000–10,000 puffs.

• Legal limit: U.K. maximum is 2 ml of nicotine-containing liquid (about 600 puffs).

• Sentence: Company dissolved; director Humayoun Khan fined £350, plus £1,871.45 costs and a £140 surcharge.

• Enforcement message: Council warns offenders face criminal convictions and urges public reporting via Citizens Advice Consumer Service (0808 223 1133 or online form).

2Firsts, Sept. 4, 2025 — Barlick Megatronic Mobiles Ltd, trading as Phonefix in Ripon, and its director, Humayoun Khan, pleaded guilty at York Magistrates’ Court to selling and possessing illegal vapes and breaching labelling rules. North Yorkshire Council trading standards officers seized 654 illegal vapes during a February 2024 inspection; despite that, officers returned in October and were able to buy another unlawful device.

One vape sold in February was advertised at 10,000 puffs—roughly equal to the nicotine in 50 packets of cigarettes—while an October purchase carried 9,000 puffs (about 45 packets). Of the vapes seized from the shop, 430 devices ranged between 4,000 and 10,000 puffs. By law, U.K. devices are limited to 2 ml of nicotine liquid, typically around 600 puffs.

Because the company had dissolved after the offences, no corporate penalty was imposed. Khan was fined £350, ordered to pay £1,871.45 in costs, and a £140 court surcharge. Cllr Richard Foster, the council’s executive member for managing the environment, warned retailers about the health risks of selling to minors or selling devices with excessive nicotine, adding that offenders risk substantial fines or imprisonment. He said public intelligence—from residents, schools, police and partners—triggers test purchases, inspections and seizures, and urged reports of suspected illegal sales to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 or via the online form.

References:

[1] Ripon Shop Fined After Selling Illegal Vapes Equivalent To 50 Packets Of Cigarettes

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[1] UK Shop Fined Over £100,000 for Selling Vapes to Minors and Hiding Illegal Tobacco

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