Ealing Council trading officers have seized thousands of illegal vapes in one of the largest ever inland raids conducted by a local authority team in the UK.

More than 18,000 illegal vapes were removed from the borough's streets as part of a concerted effort by Ealing's trading standards officers to clamp down on the sale of illegal vapes and electronic cigarettes.

Inside every vape is a tank, the size of which must not hold in excess of 2ml of nicotine - roughly 600 puffs. The seized vapes, which had a combined monetary value of around £180,000, contained nicotine with illegal tank capacities. They also failed to meet statutory labelling and information requirements.

The items were seized from a number of premises in Southall and had been invariably branded as Elux, R & M Tornado, Vapmod, Solox Vapes, M Bar and Raymont.

Ealing council's cabinet member for decent living incomes, Cllr Bassam Mahfouz, said: "It is our duty to protect the health and wellbeing to the residents of Ealing.

"Whilst nicotine-containing vapes may be a substitute for tobacco smoking these disposable vaping products still contain nicotine, which can be highly addictive and are therefore regulated products.

"Our trading standards officers are working hard to get these illegal vapes removed from sale and will continue to disrupt this illicit trade and take enforcement action where necessary. Their work is a fundamental part of our pledge to tackle businesses which put residents and consumers in the borough at risk and to support compliant businesses by creating a legal and level playing field."

To help clamp down on the sale of illegal vapes and e-cigarettes within the borough officers in the trading standards team have partnered with agencies outside Ealing - many of which are based at ports working to prevent the importation and distribution of contraband products into the UK market.

Senior trading standards officer, Mohammed Tariq, said: "This department will do everything possible to protect consumers from purchasing these illegal products. We are concerned about the large number illegal items found from this one supplier.

"We will be targeting importers, wholesalers and retailers in Ealing to remind them that they have a duty to supply products which are legal, safe and have been formally tested and meet the relevant statutory legal requirements. They should only purchase stock from reputable sources that have met the manufacturing and legal standards."

If you have information on anyone selling illegal vapes, you can report it via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 or email [email protected]. Businesses who would like advice can also email the council's trading standards team.