Shocking figures reveal ESSEX has the highest increase in illegal vape seizures across the UK. Is your county a hotspot for dangerous vapes?
The UK is facing an alarming surge in illegal vape seizures, with figures reaching record highs across multiple regions. Recent reports and Freedom of Information (FOI) data paint a troubling picture of black-market vape sales, highlighting key hotspots and the ongoing challenges enforcement agencies face. The Riot Activist heat map of illegal vape seizures, compiled from data collected by Vape Club, JTI, and local councils, provides an eye-opening visual representation of the crisis.
Record-Breaking Seizures Across the UK
According to Vape Club’s 2025 Illegal Vapes Report, nearly 1.2 million illegal vapes were seized across the UK in 2024, a 44% increase from the previous year. Over the past five years, authorities have confiscated nearly 2.8 million illicit devices, with a total value of nearly £21 million (Vape Club).
The Riot Activist heat map highlights the worst-affected areas, with Greater London leading the way with 534,024 seizures, followed closely by Essex with 333,600. Other significant hotspots include Wales (30,379), Merseyside (29,180), and Greater Manchester (26,007).
Essex, in particular, has seen an eye-watering 14,000% increase in illegal vape seizures, indicating an explosion in black-market activity. Similarly, Birmingham (+189%) and Newport (+173%) have seen alarming rises in enforcement action, while the London Borough of Hillingdon (+116%) has become a critical point of concern due to its proximity to Heathrow Airport—a known gateway for smuggled goods.
The Rise of Organised Crime and Illegal Vapes
The distribution of illegal vapes is no longer a small-scale issue but part of a larger organised crime operation. Oxfordshire Trading Standards recently uncovered sophisticated methods used to hide illicit vaping products, such as hidden, secured compartments (Oxfordshire County Council).
In Kent, authorities seized an astonishing 431,005 illegal vapes, many of which were smuggled into the UK via the Eurotunnel and Port of Dover, reinforcing concerns about international trafficking routes (Lancashire Evening Post).
Gangs Using Black Market Vapes to Exploit Young People
Recent reports indicate that criminal gangs are using illegal vapes as a tool to lure vulnerable young people into gang-related activities, including drug trafficking and sexual exploitation.
In Wales, Crimestoppers highlighted how vapes are being used to groom children by offering them free products in exchange for illegal activity or sexual favors (Crimestoppers UK).
Similarly, in Gwent, authorities reported that gangs are adapting their methods by targeting children who vape, exploiting their nicotine dependency to recruit them into criminal networks (Gwent PCC).
In Durham, police revealed that illegal vapes are the gateway for many children into county lines drug operations. Initially, gangs provide minors with vapes, who then sell them in schools. This process entangles them in criminal activities, leading to more serious offenses (ROCU Police).
These findings indicate that the illegal vape market is not just a public health issue but also a serious criminal concern, making it vital that stronger enforcement and prevention strategies are implemented.
Health Risks & Youth Accessibility
The health risks of illegal vapes remain a significant concern, particularly for young users. A 2024 House of Commons report detailed the alarming rise in youth vaping, with 7.6% of 11 to 17-year-olds now vaping regularly or occasionally—up from just 4.1% in 2020 (House of Commons Library). Many of these illicit vapes contain dangerous levels of nicotine, often far exceeding the UK’s legal limit of 20mg/ml. Some products contain up to 14ml of e-liquid—a staggering seven times the legal capacity.
While rechargeable vapes can be a useful harm reduction tool for adult smokers, the easy accessibility of illegal high-strength vapes to minors remains a pressing issue. Trading Standards across multiple regions continue to crack down on non-compliant retailers, but enforcement remains inconsistent, with only 10% of cases leading to fines or penalties (Vape Club).
What Should Be Done?
The rapid increase in illegal vape sales and seizures requires a multi-faceted approach:
- Stronger enforcement and penalties for retailers caught selling illicit vapes.
- Improved border security to curb smuggling operations, particularly in high-risk areas like Kent and Hillingdon.
- A national licensing scheme for vape retailers to prevent illegal products from entering the legitimate supply chain.
- Public awareness campaigns to educate consumers on the dangers of black-market vapes, particularly among young people.
- Increased funding for Trading Standards to improve enforcement efforts and tackle the issue at its root.
The Riot Activist heat map of illegal vape seizures is a stark reminder of the scale of the issue at hand. With enforcement agencies struggling to keep pace with the exponential rise in illegal products, urgent action is needed to protect both consumers and the legitimate vaping industry.
As new legislation looms, the industry must remain proactive, ensuring harm reduction remains the focus while tackling the real threat—the growing dominance of illegal and unregulated vapes on UK streets.
Sources:
- Vape Club Illegal Vapes Report 2025
- House of Commons Library Report
- Oxfordshire County Council Trading Standards
- Lancashire Evening Post – Illegal Vape Hotspots
- Crimestoppers UK
- Gwent PCC
- ROCU Police
- Data compiled from FOI requests (2023-2024) by Vape Club, JTI, and local councils
