Key Points
- The NVWA seized more than 277,000 illegal vapes near Rotterdam.
- The seizure involved 50 pallets and required two large semi-trailers for removal.
- The agency also seized nearly 150,000 boxes of nicotine pouches that week.
- The NVWA said these were the largest batches of vapes and nicotine pouches it has found to date.
- NVWA footage shows cartons bearing the “AL FAKHER / الفاخر” name, though the agency did not identify brands.
2Firsts
July 10, 2026
The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, known as the NVWA, said on July 8 that it seized more than 277,000 illegal vapes near Rotterdam and nearly 150,000 boxes of nicotine pouches in Utrecht and Rotterdam during the same week.
The NVWA said they were the largest batches of vapes and nicotine pouches the agency has found to date.
More Than 277,000 Illegal Vapes Found Near Rotterdam
The NVWA said the banned vapes were stored in the warehouse of a haulage company. Customs officers were carrying out a routine inspection at the site when they found the large quantity of vapes suspicious and called in NVWA inspectors.
The regulator said inspectors determined that the products were vapes with various sweet flavors. Such products are prohibited for sale in the Netherlands. Because the NVWA considered it likely that the vapes were intended for the Dutch market, inspectors seized the entire batch.
The NVWA said the seizure involved 50 pallets of vapes, requiring two large semi-trailers to remove them from the site. The detail underscores the scale of the enforcement action.
DutchNews reported that the flavored vapes were believed to have been earmarked for sale on the Dutch black market.
Nearly 150,000 Nicotine Pouch Boxes Also Seized
The NVWA also seized two large batches of nicotine pouches earlier that week.
On June 29, inspectors found nearly 70,000 boxes of nicotine pouches in a storage unit in Utrecht. A day later, police and customs officers found nearly 80,000 boxes during an inspection at a business premises in Rotterdam and called in the NVWA.
The agency described the products as nicotine pouches, also known as “snus.” Their sale is prohibited in the Netherlands.
NVWA Footage Shows “AL FAKHER” Name, but Agency Did Not Disclose Brands
Video footage released by the NVWA shows some cartons in the warehouse bearing the “AL FAKHER / الفاخر” name.
Public information shows that Al Fakher is one of the core brands under AIR Global. AIR Global says its portfolio includes Al Fakher, OOKA and Hookah.com, and the company’s ordinary shares began trading on Nasdaq under the ticker “AIIR” in May 2026.
The NVWA statement did not disclose the brands, manufacturers or importers involved, and did not provide further details on the “AL FAKHER / الفاخر” name visible in the footage.
Products to Be Destroyed at Owners’ Expense
The NVWA said the seized illegal vapes and nicotine pouches will be destroyed, with the costs charged to the owners.
The case involved customs, police and the NVWA. Authorities said the products are prohibited for sale and cannot be placed on the Dutch market.
Netherlands Continues Enforcement of Flavored Vape Ban
The Netherlands has banned the sale of flavored vapes since 2024. The NVWA supervises enforcement of the flavor ban and takes action against violators as part of efforts to tackle illegal trade.
The NVWA said sweet-flavored vapes and nicotine pouches are attractive to young people, addictive and harmful to health. The agency said it seizes and destroys illegal vapes and nicotine pouches to prevent them from being sold.
The NVWA also said reducing youth use of vapes and nicotine pouches requires not only enforcement, but also education for parents and young people, as well as support for users who want to stop vaping.
Industry Impact and Outlook
The Dutch seizure shows that illegal distribution remains a major enforcement challenge after the introduction of restrictions on flavored vapes and nicotine pouches.
From a regulatory perspective, enforcement is moving beyond retail outlets into storage, transport and wholesale channels. Rotterdam, as a major European port and logistics hub, may be an important point in supply chains involving illegal vaping products entering or moving through Europe.
For companies in the vape and nicotine product sector, the Dutch case highlights that European regulators are focusing not only on product compliance, but also on supply-chain traceability, importer responsibility and channel control. Authorities may continue to increase scrutiny of logistics companies, storage facilities and cross-border trade channels.
The appearance of the “AL FAKHER” name in the enforcement footage also gives the case additional industry relevance. Al Fakher is an international hookah brand associated with AIR Global’s recent capital-market activity. However, because the NVWA did not identify the brands involved, the visible branding should be handled cautiously, with the focus remaining on Dutch enforcement against illegal vapes, nicotine pouches and supply-chain channels.
Across Europe, flavored vape restrictions and nicotine pouch controls are advancing in parallel. As bans and enforcement intensify, illegal trade and black-market channels are likely to remain a central concern for regulators, compliant businesses and public-health authorities.
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Cover Image source: NVWA / DutchNews
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