Illegal vapes seized in Kensington and Chelsea

Around 3,000 illegal vapes have been seized in Kensington and Chelsea, worth approximately £24,000, the borough council has said.

The council added that retailers are using food brand names such as Fanta or Skittles to encourage young people to buy vapes.

While the illegal vapes are being sold throughout the borough, most products have been seized from premises in the Portobello and Earls Court areas.

Many of the products confiscated carry the US health warning and are being smuggled into the UK, the council noted.

“These vapes are being designed and marketed to purposefully mislead people. They have no place in our borough. I am particularly worried about these products being sold to young people,” Cllr Josh Rendall, Lead member for Local Economy and Employment at the council, said.

“Our trading standards team will continue to work hard to protect people from products that are non-compliant or misleading.”