Seizures of illegal vapes could be just the tip of the iceberg
News that more than 88,000 illegal vapes have been seized by trading standards officers in three West Midland local authorities in less than two years are both heartening and disturbing.
Heartening, because it means 88,000 fewer illegal vapes on the streets. These unlawful devices not only put the health of the public at risk and pose a fire hazard, in many cases they also fund organised crime and contribute to all manner of serious offences.
What's more, the raids and subsequent prosecutions are good news for those honest shopkeepers who suffer at the hands of unfair competition from the criminal gangs.
The worry is, though, that this is just the tip of the iceberg. By far the majority of the seizures were found in one local authority, Dudley, and it seems reasonable to assume that similar numbers could probably be found in other areas, if more resources were devoted to them.
E-cigarettes are now big business. Bigger margins mean that vapes are now four times as lucrative for retailers than tobacco products, and this inevitably means that unscrupulous individuals will look for a way of cashing in.
The fact that vapes are gradually replacing cigarettes on the tobacconist shelves is something that should be broadly welcomed. But just as counterfeit cigarettes present great danger to those who buy them, illegal vapes also have the potential to be a great menace to our society.
The trading standards officers should be commended for their success in bringing these dishonest individuals to justice. Long may it continue.
