During a series of recent covert operations in the centre of Walsall, Trading Standards have seized bags of illegal super strength disposable vape pens from a range of shop premises. The seized vapes have an estimated street value of £14,000.
During the sting Trading Standards Officers bagged up hundreds of illegal and branded vape bars – bearing popular names like GEEK Bar Pro, Super Stix and Elf. Some of these vapes contain 5 times the amount of nicotine and e-liquid that is legal – with an average vape yielding up to 1,500 puffs – the equivalent of smoking over 100 cigarettes. Another brand seized on the day was the ‘ELUX Bar’ – this vape clouds other competitors and one vape bar has a total puff count that is equal to 200 cigarettes.
Illegal vapes such as these are often fruit flavoured and brightly coloured to make them more attractive to children. It is illegal to sell any vape products to under 18’s but these super-strength vapes pose another level of risk to all users. They are unregulated and nobody really knows what other toxic substances they may contain.
Councillor Garry Perry, Deputy Leader of Walsall Council with a portfolio for regulatory services added:
“Looking at this recent haul of seized vapes, I’m very pleased these products have been ‘vaporised’ from our streets. Well done Trading Standards.
“The sale of these super strength pens and vapes is widespread in a range of businesses – not just in Walsall, but across the whole country. The council is very concerned to see products like these ‘normalised’ in different settings. In some cases, they have even turned up in fish and chip shops. This may also give a false sense of security to those buying them and will mask the danger.”
“Illegal vapes pose a real hazard to children and young people, hooking them into a dangerous nicotine habit. Parents’ have rightly voiced their concerns to us – not only about the scarily high levels of nicotine but because they are cynically marketed to youngsters and disguised with fruit flavours to lure them in.
“They do not belong in any store, but in the incinerator – and that is exactly where we will take them if we find that any shop trader is selling them here in Walsall. The council will continue to take a zero tolerance approach to the production and sale of illegal vapes, illicit tobacco AND use every enforcement action there is to shut it down.”
