Illegal vapes found during raids on shops in Grantham
Two men have been arrested
Last updated 13th Mar 2024
A large quantity of illegal vapes have been seized after raids were carried out on shops in the Grantham area.
It follows reports they were being sold.
Sniffer dogs helped uncovered the items as 5 stores were targeted last Monday
Two men in their thirties were arrested on suspicion of weapons offences and have been released on police bail.
Some of them were hidden behind false panels
Police told us:
The raids were carried out simultaneously on Monday morning across Europe Foods, and Biedronka, both in Wharf Road, Grab and Go in London Road, and Jazz Mini Market in Westgate.
In Biedronka a large quality of illegal vapes and cigarettes were found, while a large quantity of illegal vapes were found in Europe Foods, and in both case, some of the goods were found in hidden in the storage room behind false panels constructed into the shelving units.
Some of these were sophisticated and used magnetic mechanical components.
Officers searching Grab and Go found a large quantity of illegal vapes and cigarettes, and the same was found in Jazz Mini Market, with the latter also having hiding places for the goods.
All of these could have been sold to the local community
The hiding places mean that the goods aren’t always on show and to make them less likely to be discovered by authorities, but help from a sniffer dog from Wagtails uncovered the goods.
The teams also found a handheld taser and a suspected incapacitant spray in in the store room and behind the counter at Biedronka.
Another store in Wharf Road was also visited, and no illicit goods were found.
Some of the disposable vapes were offering 9,000 to 15,000 puffs per vape.
As a rule, disposable vapes should have around 600 puffs in them, so they comply with the legal limits on size.
All of these could have been sold to the local community.
Illicit e-cigarettes and cigarettes are not compliant with UK legal regulations on labelling, and could lack important self-extinguishing safety features, have higher nicotine concentration levels, contain banned ingredients or have oversized tanks for nicotine.