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A worrying new map shows the towns, cities and counties where illegal vapes are a serious issue. As shops shut on high streets across the country due to rising costs and changing consumer habits, many spaces have been taken by vape shops. While these are often legitimate businesses, a large number of illegal vape shops have appeared around the country, selling counterfeit vapes that pose serious health and safety risks. Illegal vapes do not comply with the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 (TRPR).

This law sets out rules for vapes and e-cigarettes, such as nicotine levels and tank sizes. An industry leader has warned that the latest data might just be the "tip of the iceberg" as he shares concern over this "deeply troubling" issue. A recent report by vape retailer Vape Club revealed that more than half of councils (55%) seized illegal vapes last year. It also identified the council areas where the most illegal vapes were seized, with one seizing more than half a million over the last three years.

The report revealed that Central Bedfordshire Council seized the most, with 345,718 uncovered in 2025. Bolton Council followed with 259,492 illegal vapes seized last year, and 346,338 over the last three years.

Other hotspots identified were Kent, Swansea, Liverpool and Hillingdon. The data was gathered from a freedom of information (FOI) request from local councils across the UK.

Bedfordshire's crisis is believed to be related to its proximity to Luton Airport, with illicit imports shifting away from London Heathrow Airport. Meanwhile, Dover, Eurotunnel and the Dartford parcel hub have been identified as key transport hubs for illegal vapes in Kent.

The map below shows the worst-affected areas where the most illegal vapes have been seized.

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The top nine areas where the most illegal vapes have been seized are:

In total, 1.3 million vapes were seized in 2025.

"I fear that what has been uncovered here is just the tip of the iceberg, and it is deeply troubling that the report shows that Trading Standards have undertaken fewer inspections this year than in the previous 12 months," said John Dunne, Director General of the UK Vaping Industry Association.

"The UKVIA has long been calling for a vape retail and distributor licensing scheme which would provide upwards of £50m a year to fund Trading Standards so that they have more resources to tackle illegal vape sales."

"Trading Standards teams up and down the country need more funding, and vape licensing could provide the revenue to hit illegal sales hard. Robust enforcement backed up by £10,000 fines for those who break the law is the best way to tackle this issue once and for all."

Many have shared their concern about the growing number of vape shops on their local high street. In Manchester, for example, Harris Street and Overbridge Street in the Strangeways area are awash with retailers selling the nicotine dispensing gadgets. Together, the two streets have a total of 51 vape shops between them as of February 2026.

Studies are being conducted into the health risks associated with vaping. One current study, which is underway at Manchester Metropolitan University, revealed that vapers suffer artery damage similar to that experienced by smokers of cigarettes.

Illegal vapes pose even more health risks as they are unregulated. Dan Marchant, Director at Vape Club and founder member of the UKVIA, said: "We've long called for a retail and distributor licensing framework to be implemented for the vape sector.

"This would provide trading standards the power and resources to effectively enforce the law right across the UK. It's a nationwide issue and is affecting our high streets and local areas."