Illegal vapes land seven Portsmouth shops with fines
The names and addresses of the shops involved have been revealed.
Seven shops in Portsmouth were fined for selling illegal vapes last year, with the council raking in over £2,500.
Portsmouth City Council’s trading standards issued eight fines to seven convenience shops for selling illegal vapes and e-cigarettes.
Shops selling counterfeit vapes and tobacco have been targeted by the council, who in February this year seized nearly £30,000 of illegal goods.
The fines were enforceable after the government banned disposable vapes in June last year as part of the The Environmental Protection Regulations 2024.
Using freedom of information requests, the Local Democracy Reporting Service asked the council how many fines were awarded to shops, the cost and the names of the shops.
Eight fines were awarded to seven shops, totalling £2,506.
Two of the shops were the Aro Market and the Bucharest Shop on 103 and 135 London Road respectively.
In March this year, it was reported that the Bucharest Shop was shut down by police after more fake vapes and tobacco were found. The Aro Market is still active on Companies House.
New King Mart, Five Star Shisha and The Yellow Shop on 68, 238 and 220 Kingston Road respectively also saw fines.
Companies House shows the Yellow Shop and New King Mart are currently dissolved.
Three men were sentenced last November for their involvement in Five Star Shisha, including the owner, Bestun Ibrahim Mohammad, who was jailed for 16 months.
The offences also took place in Charlotte Mini Market on Charlotte Street in the city centre.
Lastly, Gadget and Vapes 4 U, located at 81 Kingston Crescent, was also fined. The business remains open.
The council said it “continues to take robust action against the sale of illegal vapes” with four shops already fined this year.
“It’s too early to draw firm year-on-year conclusions, but the issue remains a significant concern. The scale of seizures last year was the largest we’ve seen, and enforcement activity in 2026 has already been substantial, suggesting the illicit vape trade continues to require vigilant enforcement.”
Councillor Lee Hunt, cabinet member for community safety, leisure and sport, said: “The sale of illegal vaping products in our city is totally unacceptable and risks harm to those who use them, because they are unregulated and don’t meet strict safety standards, and are often targeted at children.
“We will not tolerate unscrupulous traders putting profits before people’s safety. Our officers work with police and others to proactively crack down on those who flout the law, including seizing dangerous products, issuing fines, and in serious circumstances using powers to prosecute and shut down premises.
“We encourage residents not to buy illegal vapes and to report any shop they suspect is selling them to our trading standards, so we can investigate and keep our communities safe.”
On advice for residents, the council said you should buy vapes from reputable retailers, with vapes that have clear health warnings in English, that show a UK or EU address of the manufacturer or importer and an ECID number.
Other warning signs include brightly coloured, cartoonish branding or unusual flavour names aimed at children. You can report shops selling illegal products by emailing [email protected].