Over 115,000 illegal vapes and cigarettes were seized in the North East last year, new figures have revealed.

Local police forces and council authorities have vowed that they are cracking down on the scourge of illegal nicotine products in the North East – saying that “tackling the sale of illicit tobacco and illegal vapes in County Durham are among our top enforcement priorities”.

But worries are mounting about the prevalence of unregulated and illegal vapes and cigarettes – which may have a more severe impact on health than their legally sold counterparts and could be enticing children into nicotine addiction.

In 2022, data from an FOI request made by Vape Club shows that 66,662 vapes and 49,143 cigarettes were confiscated from non-law-compliant sellers.

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But Durham County Council revealed that they had seized more than that – with 414,000 illicit cigarettes and 130kg of hand-rolling tobacco, as well as more than 4,000 non-compliant vapes requisitioned by their Trading Standards department since April last year.

Ian Harrison, Durham County Council’s business compliance strategic manager, said: “Tackling the sale of illicit tobacco and illegal vapes in County Durham are among our top enforcement priorities, and we work closely with the police and our communities to gather intelligence and carry out targeted enforcement operations.

“We’ve had success in securing closure orders against nuisance premises involved in the persistent sale of illicit tobacco, which is often linked to organised crime. It can also make smoking more accessible to children and damages those honest and law-abiding local businesses that operate legitimately.

“We’re also doing a lot of work to remove illegal vapes from the market and have seized hundreds of products with oversized tanks in recent months. Whilst vapes have a part to play in assisting adults to quit smoking, it’s a concern that some of the products we’ve seized have been manufactured to look like children’s toys.

“Alongside our enforcement activity, we do of course work with retailers to educate them on the steps they need to take to ensure the products they sell comply with the law.”

Read more: Toy-shaped vape is among hundreds seized in County Durham

A Durham Constabulary spokesperson added: “Illicit and dangerous tobacco and vapes can not only cause serious harm to people’s health, but the proceeds are often invested into organised crime and can help fund more serious and violent offences. 

“We know that our communities will not tolerate the antisocial behaviour and criminality that these activities bring. If you have any information regarding potential criminality in your community then please report it to us - we will always act on intelligence submitted to us.

“Call us on 101 with any information, or submit it online via our 101 Live Chat www.durham.police.uk/Report-It/101-Live-Chat

“You can also pass information on anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”