Black Market Vapes Delivered Door-to-Door

Illegal vape sellers have adopted a Deliveroo-style model, offering same-day, hand-delivered services to bypass Trading Standards checks following the government's ban on disposable e-cigarettes. This investigation revealed that sellers heavily promote their offerings on social media platforms and finalize arrangements through encrypted messaging applications like Telegram and Signal. This method also facilitates access for underage individuals seeking to purchase vapes.

This sophisticated black market operation, estimated to be worth £6 billion annually in the UK, thrives on discreet and rapid delivery. Experts warn that this approach circumvents crucial age verification processes, leaving young people vulnerable. Despite the ban aimed at protecting children and reducing environmental waste from millions of discarded devices, an estimated six million vapes are still disposed of weekly, and a significant percentage of adolescents continue to vape.