Vape Crackdown: Illegal Product Seizures in Kent Surge by 588% in Just Two Years
A sharp rise in the number of Kent shops caught selling illegal goods has triggered alarm, as figures reveal a staggering 588% increase in enforcement action over the past two years.
New data from the BBC’s England Data Unit confirms that Kent County Council (KCC) seized illicit products from 117 retailers in the 2024-25 financial year, dramatically up from 77 the year before, and just 17 in 2022-23.
“This increase is not a reflection of a worsening problem alone, but also of a deliberate and strategic intensification of enforcement activity across the country,” said a council spokesperson.
The message is clear: Kent’s trading standards officers are upping the ante.
Their latest haul includes close to two million illegal cigarettes, over 605kg of hand-rolling tobacco, and an eye-watering 25,476 illicit vapes.
These seizures weren’t random. The council noted hotspots including Canterbury, Thanet, and Ashford, where some operations involved secret stash compartments hidden behind bathroom fixtures, a signal of just how far offenders are going to avoid detection.
The Home Office has been approached for comment but has yet to issue a response.
Across Britain, the picture remains troubling. Responses to Freedom of Information requests from 169 councils reveal that 3,624 shops nationwide were found in possession of illicit cigarettes, tobacco, or vaping products in 2024-25. That’s only a slight dip from 3,664 cases the previous year.
The BBC’s findings also expose the usual suspects, convenience stores, mini-marts, and vape shops, as the main culprits.
James Lowman, chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores, weighed in, backing tougher enforcement.
“At the moment, too many shady businesses are taking the risk on selling illicit goods because the financial reward outweighs any possible repercussions,” he said.
While councils clamp down on the ground, policy shifts are also taking shape elsewhere. In Guernsey, a possible tax on vaping products is under consideration as part of the island’s 2026 budget strategy, aiming to address rising usage and its impact on public health. Vape tax under review in Guernsey’s 2026 budget plans.
With the vape market booming and regulations tightening, it seems the illicit trade is finding new ways to thrive. But councils like KCC are fighting back with more searches, more seizures, and no tolerance.
This is not just about lost taxes or dodgy products. It’s about the safety of what’s ending up in people’s lungs.
