According to a report by TalkingRetail on June 20th, British police have seized tens of thousands of illegal e-cigarettes from black market sellers in raids across the country each month.
It is estimated that currently one third of e-cigarettes sold in the UK do not meet regulations. With the impending ban on disposable e-cigarettes set to be implemented by 2025, this number is likely to significantly increase.
The e-cigarette store (Vape Superstore) investigated the number of illegal e-cigarettes and cigarettes confiscated by various local governments in the UK from January 1 to February 29, 2023, based on a Freedom of Information Act request. They then identified the local government with the highest number of illegal e-cigarette vendors.
The results are as follows:
Kent County Council has seized the highest number of illegal e-cigarettes in the UK, totaling 431,005 units. Many of these illegal e-cigarettes were brought in through the terminals of the European tunnels and the port of Dover. Lancashire County Council has the highest number of illegal e-cigarette retailers, with a total of 132 suspicious stores. Carmarthenshire County Council has seized the highest number of illegal cigarettes in the UK, totaling 160,000 packs.
In addition, in 2023 Vape Superstore conducted a survey of 1,381 disposable e-cigarette users to investigate their knowledge of black market e-cigarette products.
The investigation results show:
50.3% of respondents are unfamiliar with the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) regulations; 83% of respondents are unaware of the potential health risks associated with illegal disposable e-cigarettes; 36.4% of respondents believe that black market e-cigarettes offer better value for money; 34.1% of respondents do not know the differences between illegal devices and regulated disposable e-cigarettes.
The organization's David Phillips stated,
E-cigarettes are an effective tool for quitting smoking, but the proliferation of illegal e-cigarettes in the market has led to a dangerous black market that consumers are often unaware of. Our research indicates that the black market for illegal e-cigarettes is particularly severe in places like Kent, Lancashire, Anglesey Island, and Swansea. We believe that by increasing people's understanding of the harm of these products, consumers will be able to make more informed purchasing decisions in the future.
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