Croydon Crackdown: Shop Owners Fined for Illegal Vape Sales

Two shop owners in Croydon have been hit with significant fines for selling illegal vapes, following successful operations by the borough's Trading Standards team. The separate cases involved the sale of vapes lacking mandatory health warnings, products manufactured outside the UK without a proper UK contact address, and vapes exceeding the legal 2ml nicotine liquid limit.

Mobile and Vape on Brigstock Road in Thornton Heath came under scrutiny in April of last year after a tip-off led to a test purchase confirming the sale of an illegal vape. During a subsequent raid, authorities seized 597 non-compliant vapes. The owner, Mr. Azmi, was ordered to pay a £600 fine, a £240 victim surcharge, and £500 towards the Council’s costs.

Similarly, Phone and Vape Gallery on London Road in Norbury was found to be selling illegal products during a routine inspection in July last year. A total of 859 illegal vapes were confiscated from the premises. The director, Mr. Singh, was fined £450, along with a £180 victim surcharge and £500 towards the Council’s costs.

Both men received credit from the judge for their guilty pleas.

Jason Perry, Executive Mayor for Croydon, commended the Trading Standards team, stating, “Yet another successful prosecution by our award-winning trading standards team. We have zero tolerance for these crimes and the team’s routine visits and intelligence-led raids are protecting residents from the potential harm these products can cause.”

This comes amidst ongoing concerns about the sale of unregulated vaping products, particularly to young people. Local authorities across the UK have been stepping up enforcement actions to combat the illicit trade of vapes that do not meet safety and quality standards. The seized vapes in these cases are likely to have been disposed of in accordance with regulations, preventing them from re-entering the market. This proactive approach by Croydon Council underscores their commitment to consumer safety and maintaining a fair trading environment within the borough.