Almost 80,000 illegal disposable vapes were seized in Salford in the space of a year, with scores of businesses found to be stocking them.
Following a recent Freedom of Information request, Salford Council revealed that between January 2023 and February 2024; 79,449 disposable vapes, 35,275 bottles of e-liquid and 1 e-cigarette, all illegal, had been seized.
On top of this, 1,723 illegal packets of cigarettes were seized in the same period, each pack containing 20 cigarettes which equates to 34,460 singles.
There have been 74 cases where a business was found to be stocking, or in possession of, illegal vaping products which were subsequently seized.
On September 19, Greater Manchester Police seized a huge haul of illicit and counterfeit vapes believed to be worth around £1 million in Cheetham Hill following a joint investigation with Salford Council.
As they entered the shop, they noticed a hidden door, and found the counterfeit items stored inside the room.
Police are hoping this activity sends a clear message to those seeking to exploit the area.
Their goal is to stop criminality creeping back in after the relentless pursuit and clear out of the destructive counterfeit trade.
Speaking at the time, Councillor Barbara Bentham, lead member for environment and community safety for Salford City Council, said: “The seizure and removal of the illegal vapes is a clear message to all wholesalers and retailers that we do not tolerate this type of criminal activity and will continue to work with GMP and partners, to eradicate any further incidents.”
“Supplying illegal vapes and tobacco products to the public undermines our efforts to protect our communities and helps to fund a variety of criminal activities.
“It can undercut and undermine the reputation of our local retailers who operate legally to provide goods and services across the city.”
According to the Office for National Statistics, 9.8% of people aged 16 or over – or 5.1 million – are likely to have vaped every day or occasionally in 2023.
E-cigarette use “continued to increase most substantially” among people aged 25 to 34 during this period.
The percentage of men aged 25 to 34 who used e-cigarettes daily was 10.2% in 2023, up from 7.4% in 2022 but lower than the 11.3% reported in 2021.
Experts said that, while vaping is less harmful than smoking cigarettes, high levels of use among young people is a concern.
Professor Nick Hopkinson, respiratory physician and chairman of public health charity Action on Smoking and Health (Ash), said: “Vaping has helped millions of adults quit smoking and is much less harmful than smoking.
“However, it is not risk-free and high levels of use among young people and growing use among never smokers is a concern.”
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