Tag Archive for: Illicit Vapes

UK Allocates £10M to Combat Illicit Tobacco and Vaping Products

The UK government announced on March 23 that it will provide £10 million in funding to Trading Standards to support local enforcement efforts against illicit tobacco and vaping products. The new funding will enable the addition of 80 trainee enforcement officers to prevent harmful products from entering community stores and to curb underage purchases.

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Upcoming Disposable Vape Ban Boosts Black Market Fears

Industry Experts Warn Upcoming Single-Use Vape Ban May Fuel Illicit Trade

London councils have seized a staggering 530,498 illegal vapes this year, with an estimated value of over £6 million, according to data obtained through Freedom of Information (FOI) requests. In the past three years, more than two million vapes have been confiscated across the city. As the government prepares to ban single-use vapes from June 1, 2025, industry experts express concerns that the black market may grow further.

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Illicit Vapes Seized in Scotland Rise 19.4% in 2024

Scotland has witnessed a staggering 19.4% increase in the number of illicit vapes seized between January and October 2024 compared to the entire year of 2023, according to the latest council data obtained by vape retailer Totally Wicked through hundreds of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests.

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Panama: Surge in Smuggled E-Cigarettes

Panama is currently facing a surge in the smuggling of e-cigarettes and other non-combustible devices, despite the existence of Law 315, which bans their sale and distribution. These products remain widely available and easily accessible in the country, indicating a growing demand. This revelation comes from an investigation conducted by research firm Povaddo, titled “Prevention of Illicit Trade: Non-combustible Alternatives in Panama,” carried out from November 19 to December 23, 2022. Interestingly, Panama is also preparing to host the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (COP10) and the third session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP3) on the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, highlighting the significance of this issue.

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