Hundreds of illegal and potentially harmful vapes have been seized by Sutton Council

The London Borough of Sutton has seized over 4,700 illegal vapes, worth over £70,000 across Sutton.

The e-cigarettes do not adhere to legal regulations in the UK and might possess elevated levels of nicotine and other prohibited components.

The Council seized vapes, vape accessories, shisha and counterfeit phone accessories among other goods in Sutton High Street. The operation is part of the Council’s ongoing commitment to crack-down on the selling of illegal vapes that could contain harmful ingredients.   

Commenting on the successful operation, Councillor David Bartolucci, Chair of the Housing, Economy and Business Committee, said: “Removing illegal vaping products from public circulation continues to be a key focus for the Council. The recent enforcement operation carried out by our own Trading Standards team shows that certain vendors are still willing to disregard legal regulations. 

“We are seeing a rise in the accessibility of unlawful vaping products on the market, along with the sale of these products to minors. It is an emerging trend that is causing significant concern to our residents and one that we are determined to stop. 

“We will not tolerate that sale of illegal goods on Sutton’s high streets and I hope this latest operation will send a warning to anyone thinking of selling counterfeit goods in Sutton”.

If you suspect any item you purchase may be fake then contact the trading standards team via their partner the Citizens Advice consumer helpline: 0808 223 1133.