County Durham trading standards officers seized hundreds of illegal vapes with tanks exceeding the 2ml legal limit from three shops in Durham following public tips. 326 vapes were confiscated during the operation, including a pink toy-shaped vape resembling a milkshake packed with 20ml capacity ten times larger than the legal limit. The container contained highly addictive nicotine chemicals. Selling these illegal products is a violation of UK regulations and can lead to fines or criminal charges.

Cllr John Shuttleworth, the Cabinet member for highways, rural communities and community safety, urged retailers to ensure they sourced such products from reputable suppliers and ensure compliance with UK regulations.

Trading standards officers have seized around 5,500 illegal vapes worth £66k since March 2020. The UK law prohibits the sale of nicotine products to under-18s and limits the amount of nicotine and e-liquid in disposable vapes.

To report underage sales or other illegal vape sales, contact the council’s trading standards team by emailing [email protected] or calling 03000 261 016.

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