Hundreds of illegal vapes seized in crackdown

Police say the sale of illegal vapes can be used to fund organised crime

Hundreds of illegal vapes and cigarettes have been seized after six stores were raided in West Yorkshire.

Police and Trading Standards officers said they had recovered 50 boxes of cigarettes and about 550 vapes while executing six warrants across the Holme Valley and Dearne Valley areas on Monday.

Insp Vanessa Briggs from West Yorkshire Police said it was important to report the sale of illegal goods as they could "contain dangerous levels of nicotine and other harmful substances" and funded "organised crime".

She said: "Seizing these items safeguards the public from products which are typically unregulated and untested."

Insp Briggs said the work also reduced environmental pollution by enforcing the ban on disposable vapes.

According to police, illegal vapes often have higher nicotine content than legal products.

In a similar raid in July, officers in Huddersfield seized vapes and cigarettes estimated to be worth £67,000.

A total of 2,050 packets of cigarettes, 168 packets of 50g tobacco and 2,634 vapes were seized in the operation.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.