Over 6 Million Illegal E-Cigarettes Seized in England, Enforcement Upgraded

Key points:

1.Over three years, more than 6 million illegal e-cigarette products were seized: The UK's Trading Standards Agency in England confiscated 6,169,822 illegal or non-compliant e-cigarette products between 2022 and 2024.

2.Complex concealment is associated with organized crime: Illegal e-cigarettes are often hidden in refrigerators, BBQ grills, false walls, etc., and involve drug trafficking and human trafficking activities.

3.Disposable e-cigarettes are the main problematic product: they dominate the illicit market, prompting the government to plan a complete ban on sales starting from June 1st.

4.Government investing £10 million to strengthen law enforcement: adding 80 new enforcement officers and allowing local agencies to retain fine income to support ongoing crackdown efforts.

5.Border areas are a key focus of seizure: Heathrow (Heathrow Airport) and Kent (Dover Harbour) account for approximately one-third of the total seizure amount nationwide.

According to a recent report by the BBC, Trading Standards agencies across England have uncovered over 6 million illegal or non-compliant e-cigarette products in the past three years. This crackdown is part of preparations to ban the sale of disposable e-cigarettes.

Paul Leighton, a senior officer at the Newcastle City Council's Trading Standards Authority, stated that illegal e-cigarette products are often supplied through complex networks and hidden in various ways. During enforcement operations, he has found illegal e-cigarettes hidden in refrigerators, barbecue grills, fake electrical boxes, and even behind tiled walls with hydraulic lifting devices, sometimes requiring the dismantling of entire kitchen setups.

The products seized in this operation are classified as illegal or non-compliant e-cigarettes. The main issues include the e-liquid capacity exceeding 2 milliliters, nicotine concentration higher than 20 milligrams per milliliter, or lacking manufacturer information and health warnings on the packaging.

According to a public information request investigation by the BBC to 136 local trading standards offices (133 of which responded), during the period of 2022 to 2024:

1.At least 6,169,822 illegal or non-compliant e-cigarette products have been seized, including the number intercepted at ports and retail outlets.

2.Records show 3,766 cases of retailers selling e-cigarettes to minors in test purchase cases (some retailers may have been found multiple times).

3.Records also show 7,594 cases of retailers selling illegal or non-compliant e-cigarettes in test purchase cases; during this time, at least 316 stores have been closed for selling illegal e-cigarettes, with an additional 67 closed for selling to minors. 

4.Most closures are temporary in nature, with some merchants possibly being sealed multiple times.

The UK Independent Vaping Trade Association (IBVTA) has emphasized that the majority of e-cigarette shops operate within the law and primarily serve adult smokers looking to quit. A spokesperson for the association pointed out that the popularity of disposable e-cigarettes has led to a cash market, attracting organized crime groups to engage in illegal importation and distribution. They are calling for increased border enforcement to curb the influx of illicit products.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in the UK has announced that an additional £10 million will be allocated in the current fiscal year to strengthen the enforcement efforts of the Trading Standards Agency, with plans to fund 80 new trainee enforcement officers. Following the implementation of the disposable e-cigarette ban, violators can face an immediate fine of £200, with repeat offenders potentially facing unlimited fines or up to two years in prison. The government has also allowed local trading standards agencies to retain fine revenues to support further enforcement efforts.

The IBVTA welcomes the addition of enforcement resources but points out that not all trading standards departments in certain areas have sufficient resources, making it difficult to effectively enforce regulations in some low-compliance areas.

According to data, the regions with the highest number of illegal e-cigarette products seized in England between 2022 and 2024 were:

·Hillingdon Borough Council: 2,099,248 cases 

·Kent County Council: 896,271 cases 

·Salford City Council: 424,472 cases 

·West Northamptonshire Council: 298,029 cases 

·Manchester City Council: 208,132 cases

According to a spokesperson from the trading standards agency, government funding has strengthened enforcement at Heathrow Airport and Dover Port, explaining the high seizure rates in Surrey and Kent areas. Meanwhile, Salford, as the location of multiple e-cigarette distribution centers, means that "sealing at this stage of the supply chain is indeed very effective".

Although law enforcement actions have achieved some success, the Trading Standards Agency points out that the enforcement challenges remain severe, due to the large amount of illegal products still in circulation and retailers continuing to sell to minors. Paul Leighton stated that the number of illegal e-cigarettes in the UK market still easily reaches millions, and efforts to crackdown on this issue will continue.

Main Image Source: BBC