London Seizes 3,000 Illegal Disposable Vapes Worth Approximately £35,000

Key Points

• Flagship illegal product: The disposable “Taki 99 Tiger Cup” is labelled at 30 mg/ml (legal limit 20 mg/ml) and contains 12 ml of liquid (limit 2 ml). Its food-like appearance and built-in straw pose an ingestion risk to young children.
• Large-scale haul: At least 3,000 disposable vapes were found in a Soho shop; due to the volume, a full assessment will take weeks.
• Multiple violations: Refill e-liquids and pod salts were found with excessive volumes and suspected illegal nicotine content; some items had labels not compliant with UK requirements. Vape kits and electrical devices were seized for incorrect UK labelling and potential safety risks.
• Other seized goods: Illicit tobacco and shisha, plus nicotine pouches with foreign-language labels not intended for the UK market.
• Official stance: The council leader said enforcement will continue against illegal sales and products designed to resemble items like toy cups that may attract children.

2Firsts, September 3, 2025 — Trading Standards officers from Westminster City Council, together with the police, recently carried out a joint operation in Soho, seizing about £35,000 worth of vapes and related products. A key item was the disposable plastic vape “Taki 99 Tiger Cup,” styled like a child’s toy cup with a straw. The device was labelled at 30 mg/ml (3%) nicotine—above the UK legal limit of 20 mg/ml (2%)—and contained 12 ml of e-liquid, far exceeding the 2 ml cap. Because it resembles a food/drink product and could lead to accidental ingestion by young children, the item also breaches appearance-safety rules.

During the operation, officers discovered at least 3,000 disposable vapes in the shop—considered one of London’s most significant seizures since the national ban on single-use vapes came into force on 1 June. Given the quantity, the council said a full item-by-item assessment could take several weeks.

Beyond disposables, officers found refills and “pod salts” with volumes or nicotine strengths suspected to be illegal. Some products carried incorrect health warnings indicating they were not intended for the UK market. Multiple vape kits and electrical devices were confiscated for non-compliant UK labelling and potential safety issues. Illicit tobacco, shisha products, and nicotine pouches with foreign labels were also seized.

Westminster City Council leader Adam Hug said the operation removed “thousands” of unlawful products from the streets and sent a clear message to traders attempting to sell unsafe disposables. He stressed that the council will continue targeted enforcement with the police to ensure illicit profits “go up in smoke” and to protect young people and public safety.