Sheffield City Council in the UK seized 27,000 illegal vapes from a warehouse and nearly 12,000 from retailers within a year. Three enterprises were fined for selling vapes to minors. Municipal officials have called for strengthened supervision to prevent high-nicotine products from attracting teenagers to use them.
Key points:
- The Trade Standards Department of Sheffield City Council in England, UK, seized 27,000 illegal vapes from a warehouse.
- In the past year, 11,941 illegal vapes were seized from retailers, and penalties were imposed on three enterprises that sold vapes to minors.
- The two companies were each fined £880, and one person was fined £440.
Over 27000 illegal e-cigarettes seized in a UK city
According to The Star’s report on April 24th, the Trade Standards Department of Sheffield City Council in Yorkshire, England, UK, recently seized 27,000 illegal vapes from a local warehouse. Several enterprises have been fined for selling vapes to minors.
A local government spokesperson confirmed that a total of 27,000 illegal vapes were seized from a warehouse in the city in recent law enforcement operations. Furthermore, over the past year, the team seized more than 11,941 illegal vapes from retailers. It imposed penalties on three enterprises that sold vapes to children, including fines of £880 for two enterprises and £440 for individuals.
Greg Fell, the director of public health in Sheffield, said,
- Vapes can help adult smokers quit smoking, but non-smokers should not start using vapes. We must do our best to stop children from smoking, but we also don’t want them to start using vapes.
Councillor Joe Otten, chair of the Sheffield City Waste and Street Scene Policy Committee, said,
- Our trade standards team needs to investigate and act promptly. I am grateful for their efforts and also for the support of the South Yorkshire Police. The design and promotion of these vapes are attractive to children and young people, a worrying phenomenon. Many of the seized vapes are unregulated and contain excessive levels of illegal nicotine.
