Thousands of illegal vapes and cigarettes found at Ramsey shop
A criminal investigation has been launched
Last updated 28th Mar 2024
A criminal investigation has been launched after almost 1,000 illegal vapes and 1,500 illicit cigarettes were seized from a shop in Ramsey.
Officers from Trading Standards, Cambridgeshire Police and HMRC attended the shop on Wednesday 20 March, following an influx of intelligence from concerned members of the public.
This was part of an ongoing multi-agency enforcement across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to tackle the supply of illegal tobacco and nicotine products.
In 2023, Trading Standards seized 8,801 vapes, over 26,000 illicit cigarettes and 38 packs of hand rolling tobacco in Cambridgeshire.
Issues include vapes with tank sizes that are illegal in the UK due to the quantities of liquid they contain, vapes that wrongly state they contain no nicotine, and cigarettes in packaging that does not comply with UK requirements on labelling and imagery.
HMRC offences relate to non-duty paid tobacco products.
It comes as the Government has announced proposals to ban disposable vapes and ensure vapes conform to plainer packaging requirements, tighter restrictions on display and strict limits on flavouring to make them less child appealing.