The number of seizure incidents involving nicotine-containing products

Request

For each of the last five financial years (2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25), please provide:

1) The number of seizure incidents involving nicotine-containing products.

2) The total number of nicotine-containing items seized.

3) Please provide a breakdown of seizures by product type, including:

a) Nicotine pouches
b) Electronic cigarettes/vapes
c) Smokeless tobacco (e.g. snus and chewing tobacco)
d) Any other nicotine products

4) In addition, where recorded, please provide:

a) The total quantity of items seized per product category
b) The number of enforcement actions, prosecutions or penalties issued in relation to these seizures
c) The type of premises where the seizure occurred (e.g. convenience store, market stall, warehouse)
 

Decision

Please see table below

Year

Number of seizures 

Products Seized by Type

Premise Type

Enforcement Actions  

2020-21

33 seizures from 19 premises

Cigarettes – 208,948 sticks (10,447packs)

Tobacco – 35,400g (708 packs)

Vapes – 0

Nicotine pouches – 0

Smokeless Tobacco – 0

Other nicotine products – 0

Total Products – 11,155

19 mini marts

1 closure order

3 Prosecutions completed

2021-22

18 seizures from 14 premises

Cigarettes – 70,299 sticks (3,515 packs)

Tobacco – 22,400g (448 packs)

Vapes – 0

Nicotine pouches – 0

Smokeless Tobacco – 0

Other nicotine products – 0

Total Products – 3,963

9 mini marts

1 car boot

4 individual sellers – street and home seller

2 closure orders

9 Prosecutions completed

2022-23

62 seizures from 44 premises

Cigarettes – 404,993 sticks (20,250 packs)

Tobacco – 54,350g (1,087 packs)

Vapes – 9,430

Nicotine pouches – 0

Smokeless Tobacco – 0

Other nicotine products – 0

Total Products – 30,767

38 Mini Mart

3 Vape Shops

2 Mobile Phone Shops

1 Domestic Premise / House

12 closure orders

8 Prosecutions completed

2023-24

55 seizures from 42 premises

Cigarettes – 130,680 sticks (6,534 packs)

Tobacco – 235,250g (4,705 packs)

Vapes – 11,959

Nicotine pouches – 0

Smokeless Tobacco – 0

Other nicotine products – 80 – e-liquids

Total Products – 23,278

35 Mini Mart

2 Vape Shops

2 Vehicles

1 Domestic Premise / House

1 Petrol Station

1 Barber

32 closure orders

2 Home Office Cautions

15 Prosecutions completed

2024-25

85 seizures from 53 premises

Cigarettes – 798,926 sticks (39,946 packs)

Tobacco – 189,810g (3,796 packs)

Vapes – 13,604

Nicotine pouches – 0

Smokeless Tobacco – 0

Other nicotine products – 0

Total Products – 57,346

36 Mini Mart

8 Vape Shops

2 Vehicles

2 Self Storage Site

1 Takeaway

1 Car Boot

1 Domestic Premise / House

1 Mobile Phone Shops

1 Furniture Shop

74 closure orders

1 undertaking

15 Prosecutions completed

Reference number
FOI 15642841
Date request received
26/02/26
Date of decision
24/03/26