Trading Standards Officers, working in partnership with Merseyside Police, have seized over 1,000 illegal vapes (valued at £8,000), 10,000 sticks of counterfeit and non-duty paid cigarettes and approximately 2kg of counterfeit hand rolling tobacco (estimated to be around £3,500.
The vapes are a combination of overcapacity vapes, which are illegal, and single use vapes which became illegal from 1 June 2025 as part of the Environmental Protection (single-use vape) England Regulations 2024.
The seizures, supported by Wagtails tobacco dog search team, form part of a borough-wide enforcement operation which aims to ensure illegal / non-compliant tobacco and tobacco products, including vapes, e-cigarette type products, in addition to traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco.
The search of three retail premises in Huyton was carried out yesterday (16 June) and were based on intelligence received.
Cllr Shelley Powell, Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods, said: “Our Trading Standards Team has done an excellent job in stopping the sale of illegal and counterfeit goods from these businesses. “I would urge anyone with any knowledge of businesses selling illegal and counterfeit goods to share the information with Trading Standards on 0808 223 1133 or Knowsley’s Trading Standards team at tradingstandardsteam@knowsley.gov.uk.”