A joint operation between North Ayrshire Trading Standards and Police Scotland Ayrshire has resulted in illicit vape and cigarette products being seized for destruction.
The joint operation attended premises in Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston yesterday (31 October). One retailer in the Stevenston area was found to be selling illegal vapes – some of which were 10,000 puff items containing the approximate equivalent of 800 cigarettes of nicotine – and 92 illicit vape units worth around £1,500 were seized for destruction.
Police Scotland Ayrshire said: “Continued feedback from community council meetings and responses from the ‘Your Police’ survey show the concerns of young persons able to acquire nicotine vape products – many of which are counterfeit or illegal in the UK.”
In addition, a test purchase operation on 27 October visited around 23 premises, with 19 premises refusing sales and four failing to pass the inspection.
The force said warnings were issued, repeat checks arranged, and illicit products were found and seized for destruction.
