Key Points:
A report has shown that in 2024, two illegal e-cigarettes are seized every minute in the UK, with a total value close to £9 million, representing a 100-fold increase since 2020.
The number of illegal e-cigarettes seized in parts of England, Wales, and Scotland has seen a significant rise.
According to a report obtained through a Freedom of Information request by UK e-cigarette retailer VapeClub, the number of illegal e-cigarettes seized in certain areas of the UK has sharply risen in the past 12 months. According to Ben Johnson, founder of e-cigarette e-liquid manufacturer Riot Labs, the high seizure rate in the Hillingdon area is attributed to its proximity to Heathrow Airport.
The report lists the top ten counties with the highest seizure quantities over the past year and the percentage change compared to 2023. The data shows that in 2024, two illegal e-cigarettes are seized in the UK every minute, with a total value of nearly £9 million. The number of illegal e-cigarettes seized has increased 100 times since 2020.
He stated that if the government could introduce a self-financed and regulated e-cigarette licensing system, it would significantly reduce the number of illegal e-cigarettes. He criticized the current prohibition strategy of the government as ineffective and exacerbating the problem.
In England, London accounts for 47% of all confiscations, while the city of Newport in Wales makes up 70% of the total seizures in Wales; in Scotland, Renfrewshire, where Glasgow Airport is located, reported the highest number of confiscations, totaling 3,814 cases.
Dan Marchant, the CEO of Vape Club, added that...
Innocent British citizens who are using e-cigarettes as a legitimate tool to quit smoking are being exploited by the black market. The government must reassess its current policies and carefully examine the recommended retail and distribution licensing framework in order to address the issue of youth e-cigarette use, while not impeding adult smokers who are using e-cigarettes to quit smoking.
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