More than £46k in fines handed out to Luton businesses caught with illegal vapes
Thousands of illegal vapes were seized by Trading Standards in Luton in 2025, as Luton Borough Council cracked down on rogue traders.
Freedom of Information data, obtained by Vape Superstore, found that a total of £46,640 in fines were handed out by to Luton businesses caught selling 4,882 illegal vapes, e-liquids and e-cigarettes in nine investigations.
Councillor Maria Lovell MBE said the figures reflect the council's zero-tolerance approach to tackling illegal vaping products.
She explained: "Following a rise in illegal vape activity between 2023 and 2024, Luton Trading Standards took robust enforcement action against several businesses, resulting in a number of prosecutions. As several of those cases concluded in 2025, the total fines recorded that year were significantly higher than in previous years.
"The latest figures show a significant reduction in the sale of illicit vapes across the borough, and we are also finding very few single-use vapes following their ban in June 2025.”
This time last year, the sale of disposable vapes was made illegal, and now all vapes must be rechargeable, refillable, and reusable.
Cllr Lovell added: "These results demonstrate that Trading Standards' enforcement activity has been effective in tackling the rise in illegal vape sales in Luton. However, we remain vigilant and will not be complacent.”