Lancashire Police and Trading Standards, a consumer protection authority, raided a shop in Rawtenstall, England, in late October, confiscating about 20,000 illicit cigarettes and 350 illegal vapes.
As the Lancashire Telegraph detailed, there had been reports from concerned residents about the shop's illegal tobacco sales.
When authorities investigated the tobacco products on the premises in the borough of Rossendale, they found illegal cigarettes and vapes not compliant with the country's regulations.
"It's great that we have been able to remove a quantity of illegal tobacco products from the streets of Rossendale," said Sergeant Paul Marsden, per Lancashire Telegraph.
Tobacco products — especially electronic vapes — pose a serious public health hazard, increasing the risk of certain cancers and weakened respiratory health in users.
Vape use has become alarmingly widespread among minors, which has forced legislators to ban vapes to discourage underage nicotine consumption.
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Disposable vapes create excess waste, littered on the streets, on the road, on the beach, and have damaged tires and even started fires.
The dangerous chemicals that the devices leach into the ground contaminate the soil and waterways and can affect every level of the food chain.
While governments do not regulate tobacco products to be "safe" for use, governments may set minimum standards to police banned contaminants and ensure quality and cleanliness. Tobacco products must also be uniquely identified, ensuring each product can be traceable.
Illegal cigarettes and vapes bypass the modest regulations that exist surrounding tobacco production and distribution, and they can be dangerous for consumers.
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Majorly 😥 This lack of oversight and risk to public health underscores exactly why it was crucial for authorities to act quickly in seizing the illegal tobacco products off the shelves.
"We encourage the community to continue to report their concerns so that the appropriate agency can take effective action," Marsden said, per Lancashire Telegraph.
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