Joint Operation by UK Authorities Uncovers Thousands of Illegal E-cigarettes

Regulations by 2FIRSTS.ai
May.16.2024
Joint Operation by UK Authorities Uncovers Thousands of Illegal E-cigarettes
Authorities in Cambridgeshire seized thousands of illegal e-cigarettes in a multi-agency operation, urging public cooperation in combating crime.

According to a report from the Ely Standard on May 15, British police and trading standards conducted a joint operation based on information provided by the public. In a multi-agency operation involving trading standards, Cambridgeshire Police, and HM Revenue and Customs, thousands of illegal e-cigarettes were seized from two shops in Ely.

 

According to reports, during this operation, a store was found to have 1340 illegal e-cigarettes, as well as 23280 illegal cigarettes and 4.65 kilograms of hand-rolling tobacco. Another store was also found with 2810 illegal e-cigarettes. This operation was a multi-agency effort targeting the supply of illegal tobacco and nicotine products in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

 

According to Peter Gell, Director of Regulatory Services at the Cambridge County Council, "These ongoing, targeted enforcement actions send a clear message to both the shops supplying these products and the organized crime groups behind these crimes - Cambridge County will not tolerate the sale of illegal tobacco and nicotine products.

 

Mat Lupton-Pike, a community officer in East Cambridge County, added, "We are working hard to protect our community from harm. Illegal cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and tobacco pose serious health risks and also fund other criminal activities. We urge the public to continue to report any information or concerns to us. The more information we receive, the clearer the picture we can obtain, and the more effective our efforts will be in combating those who maliciously harm our community.

 

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

Russia’s Volgograd fines retailer 300,000 rubles for unlabelled nicotine products, orders confiscation and destruction
Russia’s Volgograd fines retailer 300,000 rubles for unlabelled nicotine products, orders confiscation and destruction
Volgograd, Russia say a retailer was caught selling unlabelled nicotine products, including electronic nicotine delivery devices flagged in the national “Honest Sign” tracking system as already withdrawn from circulation. A local court fined the entrepreneur 300,000 rubles and ordered 41 confiscated items to be destroyed, with the decision now in effect.
Feb.05 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Special Report|FDA Revises Device Name in Glas Vape Authorization; Company Signals Optimism on Menthol, Flavored Pods
Special Report|FDA Revises Device Name in Glas Vape Authorization; Company Signals Optimism on Menthol, Flavored Pods
The FDA updated public records on the PMTA authorization of a Glas vape product, renaming “Glas G Device” to “Glas G² Device” and releasing the order letter detailing scientific review and marketing restrictions. Company disclosures suggest the platform may include age-verification technology. If confirmed, Glas G² could be the first vape with device-level age verification to receive an FDA MGO. Glas executives also said menthol and other flavored pods could gain authorization in the future.
Special Report
Mar.14
UK Vape Waste Falls 23% From 2024, but Recycling Group Says Fire Risks Remain High
UK Vape Waste Falls 23% From 2024, but Recycling Group Says Fire Risks Remain High
New research from UK recycling campaign group Material Focus says more than 6.3 million vapes and pods are still thrown away each week in the UK. The figure is down 23% from 8.2 million in 2024, which the group said suggests the June 2025 single-use vape ban has helped reduce waste, but it warned that the current level still represents a major waste of valuable materials and a significant fire risk.
Mar.27 by 2FIRSTS.ai
BAT faces London shareholder lawsuit over alleged disclosure failures tied to North Korea business
BAT faces London shareholder lawsuit over alleged disclosure failures tied to North Korea business
British American Tobacco is facing a shareholder lawsuit in London alleging it failed to properly disclose to markets information about breaches of U.S. sanctions linked to its North Korea-related business. BAT agreed in 2023 to pay more than $635 million to U.S. authorities after a subsidiary admitted conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions by selling tobacco products to North Korea and committing bank fraud from 2007 to 2017.
Mar.05 by 2FIRSTS.ai
HB337 Moves Forward: Cigarette and Nicotine Taxes Set to Rise in Utah
HB337 Moves Forward: Cigarette and Nicotine Taxes Set to Rise in Utah
Utah lawmakers are advancing HB337, a bill that would raise the state cigarette tax by $2 per pack and restructure taxes on other nicotine products. The proposal replaces weight-based taxes with percentage-based rates and removes reduced rates for certain modified risk products. Supporters say it will curb youth tobacco use, while opponents warn of cross-border shopping and harm to consumers seeking alternatives.
Feb.17
Andy Tan Named 2026 SRNT Fellow for Contributions to Nicotine Research
Andy Tan Named 2026 SRNT Fellow for Contributions to Nicotine Research
Andy Tan, Ph.D., has been named a 2026 Fellow of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT), an international professional association dedicated to advancing nicotine and tobacco research. Fellows are selected for outstanding research contributions as well as leadership, mentoring, and policy engagement within the field.
Feb.23