Weymouth: Thousands of illegal vapes and cigarettes seized

Around 1,000 illegal vapes were seized in the raids

About 1,000 illegal vapes and 18,000 cigarettes have been seized from two sites during a trading standards operation.

Almost 7kg of hand rolling tobacco and vehicles containing suspected illegal goods were also taken from the two premises in Weymouth, Dorset.

Dorset Council's trading standards team led the operation in late March.

No illegal goods were found at a third premises.

Anna Eastgate, corporate director for place services at Dorset Council, said: "These vital multi-agency operations are designed to disrupt and frustrate the supply of illegal products, which harms the health of Dorset residents and the interests of legitimate businesses."

Dorset Council said many of the vapes seized "flouted" rules regulating the e-cigarettes

Officers from Dorset Police, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the regional trading standards illegal tobacco & vapes officer, and BWY Canine Ltd - with specialist detection dogs - also took part in the raids.

Weymouth and Portland Police neighbourhood inspector Sam Goom said the operation "demonstrates our commitment to relentlessly pursue those who offer these items for sale" around Weymouth.

Vapes and e-cigarettes are regulated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which places restrictions on how much nicotine they can contain, and what other chemicals can be used.

Vehicles containing the illegal products were also seized

Many of the devices seized by trading standards were found to "flout" these rules, with particular concern that some may have been designed specifically to appeal to children and young people.

Ben Hayes, regional trading standards illegal tobacco & vapes officer, said: "The sale and supply of illegal tobacco funds organised crime and harms your communities."

He added: "The message is clear, if you don't smoke, don't vape - and children should never vape."

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