Britain’s illegal vape hotspots have been revealed in new data—with a staggering 1.2million danger devices, valued at £9million, seized in 2024.
That’s the equivalent to two every minute, representing a 44 per cent increase on last year.
The damning figures fly in the face of the Government’s drive to ban disposable vapes—and highlight the UK’s growing vape black market.
Illegal vapes can contain nicotine levels higher than the legal limit in the UK, potentially causing illness, or unknown added chemicals that may be toxic.
The London Borough of Hillingdon topped the list for total seizures in 2024, with 484,954 vapes confiscated—an increase of 116 per cent compared to 2023.
Essex ranked second for total devices seized, with 333,600 confiscated—but was the fastest growing market, with a 14,000 per cent increase in illegal vapes seized.
Industry experts attributed this to Hillingdon’s proximity to Heathrow airport, making it a key entry point for such devices.
Overall, the borough accounted for two in five of all vapes seized by authorities across the UK in 2024.
Liverpool ranked third nationally, with 29,180 vapes seized last year—a near 50 per cent increase on 2023.
In Wales, Newport, Northeast of Cardiff, was identified as that nation’s illegal vaping hub, with over 20,000 vapes seized, accounting for 70 per cent of Wales’s total.
For Scotland, Renfrewshire Council—home to Glasgow Airport—recorded the highest number of illegal vapes confiscated, with 3,814 seized.
Ben Johnson, chief executive of vaping business Riot Labs, said the Government should introduce a licensing scheme for the devices.
This would mean only authorised retailers could sell them to the public, to curb the rise in black market sales.
‘The bottom line is, the illegal vape black market is booming due to a lack of enforcement and the Government’s ongoing attempts to use prohibition, which is only fuelling the problem. Prohibition does not work,’ he said.
‘Vapes have a vital role to play in the Government’s smoke free ambitions, helping millions of adult smokers quit.’
Dan Marchant, chief executive of the Vape Club, which carried out the report, added: ‘Innocent Brits who are using vapes as a legitimate tool to quit are being exploited by the black market, and more has to be done to protect them.
‘Dangerously high nicotine levels and contaminated products are reaching consumers due to this illicit activity.’
The warnings come as the Government plans to ban single use vapes from June this year in an effort to reduce youth vaping.
The latest NHS data shows that one in four children has tried vaping, while one in 10 uses vapes regularly. Among 16- to 17-year-olds, the rate rises to one in six.
Disposable vapes are by far the most commonly used form of the device, with as many as 70 per cent of children who vape using them.
Unlike refillable ‘pen’ or ‘box’ style vape devices, which retail from about £20, disposables can be purchased for as little as £3.
This, campaigners say, makes them particularly attractive to younger people.
And like most vapes, they contain nicotine, which is highly addictive.
While vapes were initially touted as a ‘safer’ alternative to tobacco, public health experts have become increasingly concerned that youngsters who have never smoked are using electronic cigarettes or vapes.
NHS Digital data, based on the smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England survey for the year 2021, showed 30 per cent of children in Yorkshire and the Humber have used a vape
Multiple shocking cases have emerged of collapsed lungs, fainting or vomiting ominous green liquid, linked to heavy vaping among youngsters.
And, disturbingly, there is evidence children as young as four are being hospitalised due to damage caused by vapes.
NHS England has said doctors have seen a 733 per cent surge in children and teenagers being admitted for vaping-related disorders since 2020.
In 2023, 11 were nursery school-age and 12 were aged 10 to 14.
The NHS has historically recommended vapes to help people quit smoking, one of the biggest causes of illness and death in the UK.
Around 76,000 people die every year from smoking-related health problems, including heart disease, strokes and cancer.
E-cigarettes are far less harmful than traditional smoking and can help people quit smoking for good according to the health service.
Experts say some signs a vape may be illegal include if the volume of e-liquid being over 2ml, a nicotine level is higher than 20mg/ml, packaging that doesn’t show the nicotine warnings required by law, packaging in a foreign language and a lack of an ingredient list.
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