Raids secure hundreds of illegal vapes and tobacco in West Lothian

By: Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter

Hundreds of illegal and potentially dangerous vapes have been seized from shops across West Lothian.

The council’s Trading Standards officers acted on tip-offs from the public to confiscate a variety of vaping and tobacco products.

Trading Standards officers raided seven premises across the county, including locations in Bathgate and Livingston.

And as a tip-off line was launched to report dangerous products a councillor warned customers of a “genuine danger to health.”

Executive councillor for public and community safety Craig Meek warned vape customers, many of whom are teenagers: “Illegal vapes are a genuine danger to health, as there are no controls in place to make sure they do not contain harmful chemicals.”

The products seized by Trading Standards are not registered with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), so have not passed through their quality control processes.

This means they could contain harmful chemicals or high levels of nicotine.

Anyone with information on illegal vapes being sold can report it anonymously online, or by emailing tradingstandards@westlothian.gov.uk.

Cllr Meek said: “Our dedicated Trading Standards team make every effort to protect West Lothian residents by making sure potentially dangerous items like this are not available for sale.

“It also prevents consumers buying potentially substandard products and stops money being diverted from legitimate local businesses selling genuine MHRA authorised products.

“We would encourage all West Lothian residents not to buy illegal vapes or tobacco, and let our Trading Standards team know if they spot them for sale, or have any further information on those involved.”

(Local Democracy Reporting Service)