Police use AI to tackle surge in illegal disposable vapes trade

Police forces and trading standards departments are increasingly turning to investigative technology to combat the growing black market for illegal disposable vapes in the UK.

Official figures show that 1.19 million illegal vapes were seized by Trading Standards between 2023 and 2024, marking a 59% rise from the previous year. Experts within the enforcement sector suggest that the outlawing of disposable vapes has not curbed their presence but instead pushed sales underground, creating new challenges for those tasked with upholding the ban.

Shadow economy

Dave Sampson, a former detective who now works as a consultant for the investigative technology company Altia, described the evolving market as mirroring the early days of illegal drug trafficking.

"These warehouses didn't just disappear when disposable vapes became illegal earlier this year."

Sampson commented on the enduring presence of disposable vapes in the UK despite the legislative change.

"A huge proportion of the market, up to 60%, was disposable at the time and the stock still exists. People across the UK are still trying to shift them."

Enforcement agencies remain under pressure, with many police resources directed towards violent crime and major trafficking cases. According to Sampson, this means that illegal vape distribution is becoming a "low-risk, high-reward sideline" for a range of sellers, including those operating on the street and petrol station staff.

Digital networks

Illegal vape supply chains predominantly operate online, with criminals utilising social media platforms and encrypted messaging groups to advertise and sell banned products. This shift in market dynamics presents both a challenge and an opportunity for enforcement.

Sampson explained, "Illegal vape supply chains now live primarily online. Instagram shout-outs, Snapchat stories and even encrypted groups are becoming bustling digital marketplaces for teenagers and bargain-hunters alike."

He suggested that this online activity gives police and trading standards a crucial opportunity to intervene.

"The key to preventing illegal vape sales is open-source intelligence, known as OSINT. It's a technology capable of tracking social media signals, mapping out networks, and building evidential files that stand up in court."

Trading Standards departments are now deploying technology that uses artificial intelligence to monitor digital platforms, identify trends, and geolocate offenders. Sampson highlighted the ability of these tools to create a digital "ring-fence" around suspects, helping authorities identify not only the sellers but also their methods and financial transactions.

Environmental and enforcement complexities

Disposable vapes have also posed a significant environmental challenge, with one reportedly discarded every 30 seconds in the UK. Sampson said that the ban has led to a new "stockpile economy" as warehouses hold onto unsold inventory. He compared the current situation to historic challenges with deactivated firearms in the UK.

"Think of it like deactivated firearms in the past. Some are even being stripped apart, converted, rebranded to look rechargeable. That blurs the legal line and makes storefront audits almost impossible without specialist knowledge."

Demand among young consumers remains a persistent issue, with many under the age of 15 still seeking disposable vapes.

"For some kids, the first thing they do in the morning isn't pick up their phone, it's to take a puff of their vape," he said.

Role of technology

With police forces unlikely to assign significant resources to vape seizures, trading standards officers have become the primary enforcers. The adoption of investigative tools, including Altia's OSINT Investigator, supports the use of smart scanning, blockchain-style stock tracking, and AI-driven analysis of social media activity.

Financial benefits have also been cited, with product seizures often resulting in cash confiscations and intelligence about supply chains that can fund subsequent investigations. As Sampson stated,

"The more you look, the more you'll find, and it starts to resource itself."

Although disposable vapes are now prohibited for sale, they continue to contribute to a growing underground marketplace driven by social media and digital technology. Law enforcement officials are now relying on technological solutions, including data mapping and open-source intelligence monitoring, to keep pace with the evolution of this illicit trade.