Warning after 'van full' of illegal items seized from Nottinghamshire shops

Officers said the products negatively impacted law-abiding retailers who struggled to compete

Police have issued a warning after 'van full' of illegal items were seized from shops in a Nottinghamshire town. Three shops across Newark town centre were searched by officers at different points on the evening of Tuesday, October 15.

Officers and PCSOs from the area's neighbourhood team packed up several bags worth of illegal disposable vapes from the stores, joined by officials from Nottinghamshire County Council's Trading Standards department. While no illicit tobacco products were found during the raids, police said large quantities of vapes were removed from the trio of stores.

Nottinghamshire Police explained the illicit vapes were over the UK size limit and could encourage excessive nicotine consumption, as well as undermining retailers which followed the rules. Inspector Charlotte Ellam, District Commander for Newark and Sherwood, said: "The vapes were found and removed from three shops in Newark town centre, with Trading Standards joining our team to conduct a series of planned searches.

"Shops which blatantly sell illegal vapes negatively impact genuine, law-abiding retailers who struggle to compete. If anyone sees shops selling anything they believe to be illegal or not approved for sale in the UK, we’d ask them to please contact Nottinghamshire Trading Standards directly.”

Disposable vapes approved for sale in the UK have a maximum tank size of 2ml and are normally advertised as having approximately 600 puffs in them. Any vape claiming to provide more than 600-800 uses will have a tank size that’s larger than 2ml and will be illegal as a result.