New data reveals that London remains a hotspot for illegal vape sales, with over half a million illicit and unregulated products confiscated in 2024 alone.

Bordering the capital, the councils of Essex and Kent also seized over 300,000 and 400,000 illegal vapes respectively, highlighting the areas being targeted as two of London’s major import hubs.

A new Freedom of Information (FOI) request, submitted to 108 local authorities by Vape Club, has exposed the scale of the UK’s illegal vape problem. The findings form part of the 2025 Illegal Vapes Report, showing that over 500,000 illegal vapes were seized across London boroughs in 2024—nearly double the number recorded compared to the previous year.

Hillingdon, home to Heathrow Airport, has emerged as a central entry point for illegal vapes, accounting for 40% of the UK’s total seizures in 2024. Over the past five years, more than one million illicit vapes have been confiscated in this borough alone, underlining its strategic importance in tackling the issue.

London’s Top Five Illegal Vape Hotspots in 2024

London Borough of Hillingdon – 484,954 illegal vapes seized
Ealing Council – 9,072 illegal vapes seized
London Borough of Hackney – 6,520 illegal vapes seized
London Borough of Barking & Dagenham – 6,250 illegal vapes seized
London Borough of Merton – 5,336 illegal vapes seized
Following Hillingdon, Ealing Council ranked second with 9,072 illegal vapes seized, while Hackney took third place with 6,520 confiscated vapes, highlighting the scale of the issue. Meanwhile, Merton saw a staggering 20-fold surge in confiscations, reflecting intensified enforcement efforts across the capital.

Despite 137 recorded cases of illegal vape sales, only eight penalties were issued in London, with fines averaging £984, less than half the £2,500 maximum, raising concerns about enforcement. Across the UK, 1.2 million illegal vapes were seized in 2024, a 44% increase from the previous year, with two illegal vapes confiscated every minute.

Experts are renewing calls for a Vape Retailer and Distributor Licensing framework to curb the black market. Without stricter controls and more resources for enforcement, illegal sales could surge, especially after the UK’s disposable vape ban in June 2025.

Dan Marchant, Director at Vape Club, says:

“The real issue of illicit vape sales lies in the inadequate enforcement of current regulations and penalties for those in violation of the law. With the disposable vape ban coming into force, we risk a new generation of illegal and potentially dangerous vaping products in the UK, all because the core of the issue has not been addressed. This boils down to lacklustre fines and little structure to provide Trading Standards with adequate funding.

“This is why we are strong supporters of a robust vape retail and distribution licensing scheme, where the funds generated are ringfenced for pro-active enforcement of the laws. This much needed revenue could enable Border Force to catch a much greater amount of illegal products from ever entering the country, and for Trading Standards to flush out retailers flouting the law and impose significant penalties.”