Millions of illegal vapes have been seized across London in the last five years, but doctors warn the true scale of the public health risk may still be unknown. New data has revealed the volume of unregulated devices being removed from the capital’s streets, dangerous products containing metals and toxins, which are slipping through enforcement cracks.
An interactive map produced by The Standard, using data obtained through Freedom of Information requests collated by Midland Health, shows the scale of illegal vape seizures across London’s boroughs. Twenty-six of London’s 32 borough councils, along with the City of London Corporation, responded to the request, reporting 2,480,789 illegal vapes seized between January 2020 and December 2025, valued at £22.4 million.
Hillingdon Borough Council recorded by far the highest figures, seizing almost 2.15 million illegal vapes valued at around £19.3 million. This includes Heathrow Airport, which could explain the high numbers. Despite this, the council reported no closure orders over the same period. Other high-seizing boroughs include Ealing (36,243 vapes), Hackney (33,665), Croydon (31,245), and Barnet (22,871).
Dr Rupa Parmar, GP and Medical Director of Midland Health, said: “We commend local councils for taking measures against the sales of illegal vapes, but it’s concerning that we still don’t know the full number of unregulated vapes that are still available to the public.” She warned that illegal vapes can contain toxic metals like lead, nickel, and copper, and some have nicotine levels equivalent to smoking hundreds of cigarettes.
The use of closure orders remains low across London, with many boroughs reporting none at all. The disposable vape ban was a step forward, but Dr Parmar stressed that more work is needed, including tighter product regulations and further restrictions on access.
