Thousands of illegal vapes seized from Manchester store

Officers of the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have seized around 18,200 non-compliant vape products following a visit on Thursday to a store suspected of stocking and trading non-compliant vape products.

The GMP officers were assisted by partners in Trading Standards and Immigration Enforcement in the Operation Vulcan.

The store that’s located on Overbridge Road in Cheetham Hill was also suspected of exploiting staff who are unable to work due to their immigration status, the police added.

“Operation Vulcan has located numerous criminal enterprises in the Cheetham Hill and Strangeways area flouting laws to sell knock-off vapes,” Detective Inspector Christian Julian of GMP’s Operation Vulcan said.

“The seizure today is a great result for Operation Vulcan and our partners as it means thousands of potentially harmful products have been taken off the streets of Greater Manchester.”

Councillor Lee-Ann Igbon, executive member for vibrant neighbourhoods for Manchester City Council said: “This action shows the important role our Trading Standards Team has in keeping residents in Manchester safe.

“In the UK, vapes are an age-restricted product and highly regulated for safety and quality. Whilst not risk-free, vaping is much less harmful than smoking and can be a very effective tool for adult smokers trying to quit tobacco.

“It’s important to say that most products on the market meet UK regulations, however, with non-compliant products there is a risk that none of the usual safety checks and procedures have been followed. We would encourage residents to report any concerns or suspected sales of non-compliant vapes to help protect the community.”