Newark officers loaded a van up full of illegal vapes after seizing them during a series of shop raids.
Three shops across Newark town centre were searched by police at different points on Tuesday (15 October) evening.
Officers and PCSOs from the neighbourhood team packed up several bags of illegal disposable vapes from the stores.
Nottinghamshire County Council Trading Standards colleagues joined Newark police in targeting the sale of illegal tobacco and disposable vapes.
The joint operation was carried out as part of the Newark neighbourhood team’s activity for Safer Business Action Week, which started on Monday (14 October).
While no illicit tobacco products were found during the raids, large quantities of vapes were removed from the shops in question.
Disposable vapes approved for sale in the UK have a maximum tank size of 2ml and are normally advertised as providing approximately 600 puffs.
Any vape claiming to provide more than 600-800 puffs will have a tank size larger than 2ml and will be illegal.
This law is in place to ensure electronic cigarette products are used responsibly and to protect consumers from excessive nicotine intake.
Inspector Charlotte Ellam, District Commander for Newark and Sherwood, said: “We’re pleased to have been able to take such large quantities of illegal disposable vapes out of circulation through this activity.
“The vapes were found and removed from three shops in Newark town centre, with Trading Standards joining our team to conduct a series of planned searches.
“This joint operation was conducted as part of our neighbourhood activity for Safer Business Action Week, with the purpose of targeting the sale of illicit tobacco and illegal vapes.
“Shops that blatantly sell illegal vapes negatively impact genuine, law-abiding retailers who struggle to compete.
“If anyone sees shops selling anything they believe to be illegal or not approved for sale in the UK, we ask them to please contact Nottinghamshire Trading Standards directly.”