Liverpool News
Liverpool City Council’s Public Protection Team seizes largest haul of illicit vapes yet
7 months ago
Liverpool City Council’s Public Protection team has scored a significant victory in the battle against illicit vapes with its largest seizure to date, uncovering over 3,500 illegal vapes from a single premises in the London Road area of Liverpool.
The operation, based on intelligence received by the council’s Public Protection team, saw officers from the local policing team collaborate to tackle the issue of illicit vapes head-on.
3,500 illicit vapes were seized from this one shop alone, with a street value of ÂŁ42,000. This marks a significant escalation in efforts to curb the illegal sale of vaping products.
This haul surpasses previous records by threefold, illustrating the scale of the challenge faced in combating this trade. In 2024 alone, seizures of illegal vapes have totaled 18,500, with an estimated value exceeding ÂŁ222,000.
As well as the illegality of the vapes, they also present a clear threat to public health. Research has shown that as illicit vapes are not regulated, many contain banned ingredients and oversized tanks for the nicotine liquid.
The work of the Councilâs Alcohol and Tobacco Unit alongside City Law & Governance and Public Health colleagues has led to thousands of illicit vapes being taken
off the streets.
If you are aware of anyone selling alcohol or tobacco products illegally, you can report them to the Alcohol and Tobacco Unit anonymously.
Sales to under-18s can also be reported on the âReport Illegal Tradingâ webpage here.
Matt Ashton, Director of Public Health at Liverpool City Council, said:
âThis work sends a clear message to other retailers in our city who are trading in illegal products.
âWhile genuine vaping products continue to provide a viable alternative for those who want to quit smoking, the guidance remains that these should always be sourced from reputable retailers and if you donât smoke already, donât start vaping.â