FLINTSHIRE has been named among the ‘illegal cigarette capitals of the UK’.

Flintshire County Council seized 22,032 packets of illegal cigarettes over a 14 month period – the 9th highest number recorded among local authorities in the UK.

That’s according to Vape Superstore, which analysed FOI request data from UK councils between January 2023 and February 2024.

Flintshire Council also seized 1,684 illegal vapes from 20 businesses in the area. 

Illegal tobacco is cigarettes and rolling tobacco that has no duty paid and is consequently much cheaper than legitimate tobacco.

The low price and readiness to sell to under 18s creates significant risk to children and makes it harder for adult smokers to quit.

Illegal tobacco distribution is often linked to other criminal activity, and bringing crime into local communities.

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Smoking is still the single biggest cause of premature death in Wales and the UK, killing over 5,000 people in Wales every year.

In the UK, disposable vapes have to follow strict regulations, external – they cannot contain more than 2ml of liquid, with 20mg of nicotine contained within that – similar to 20-40 cigarettes' worth.

Illegal vapes ignore these rules and often contain significantly higher doses of nicotine and liquid. One of the easiest ways to spot an illegal vape is if the "puff count" exceeds 600-800.

Trading Standards say some illegal vapes can be equivalent to smoking 20 cigarettes in one go.

Flintshire Council was approached for comment.