Illegal vapes worth €1.55 million on the black market have been seized by police in Spain.
The Civil Guard in Seville has confiscated 171,407 illegal vapes, including disposable devices that do not comply with current regulations, with an approximate market value of €1.55 million. It is one of the largest seizures of illegal vapes ever seen in Spain.
The raid was part of the “Humeros” operation, carried out by Civil Guard agents from the Fiscal and Border Analysis and Investigation Unit of the Port of Seville (UDAIFF) and the Fiscal and Border Patrol (PAFIF).
Investigations began after officers noticed vapes being sold in different public outlets that did not meet Spanish law on manufacturing, labelling and distribution.
The UDAIFF and the PAFIF said they carried out several inspections across the province of Seville and found illegal vapes for sale in a multitude of establishments, including specialist vape stores, bazaars and warehouses. Most had been brought in from outside the European Union by unauthorised importers and had not been registered.
The offenders now face prosecution for smuggling as well as charges related to the manufacture, sale and marketing of nicotine-releasing products.
Spain to add to anti-vape laws
Last week, the Spanish government moved to tighten its vape laws even further with a ban on disposable vapes and a multitude of flavours.
Secretary of State for Health Javier Padilla has said that in the coming weeks
"the draft amendment to Royal Decree 579/2017 will be available, which will include a ban on disposable electronic cigarettes.”
He said the decision had been made due to disposable vapes being ‘harmful to health and to the environment.’
Mr Padilla added that the proposed law will include a ban on flavoured vapes.
However, the Independent European Vape Alliance (IEVA) has called on Spain to reconsider the ban, warning that it could fuel the black market in illegal products.
“The effective ban of e-liquids in the Spanish market will lead to a boom in black market activities with dangerous, non–compliant products,” the IEVA said in May in a statement.
It also warned the move will cause a rise in smoking rates and put more than 3,000 jobs in the Spanish vaping industry at risk.
The World Vapers’ Alliance last week said the ban “condemns millions of people to continue smoking.”
