Over 100 counterfeit vapes have been seized from a shop in Cumbernauld after reports of them causing children to cough up blood.
Children have been allegedly buying disposable vapes that look similar to highlighter pens and contain more nicotine than a packet of cigarettes.
North Lanarkshire Council's Trading Standards team has now seized 150 of the vape products which can't legally be sold in the UK from local shops after being contacted by a concerned parent.
Before making the sting, they carried out test purchases at shops said to be selling the banned items.
Disposable nicotine vapour products must contain no more than 2ml of liquid, the equivalent nicotine in one packet of cigarettes. 2ml of liquid equates to around 600 puffs in a vape product; some of the products seized contained more than 1,500 puffs.
The local authority has said the amount of nicotine in them has caused kids to cough up blood, and experience nose bleeds and nausea.
The products didn't comply with the labelling requirements of The Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 and didn't come with the required information leaflet, correct warning size, or importer details.
Paul Bannister, Protective Services Manager, said: “Our exercise has successfully removed a number of nicotine vapour products from sale, due to consumer product safety concerns, however, I would ask parents to be alert to the risks of young people using them.
“Remember, it is unlawful for nicotine vapour products to be supplied to persons under the age of 18 years.
“Disposable vapes are sold in bright packaging designed to appeal to young people in flavours like strawberry and bubble gum, for as little as £5. They contain very high levels of nicotine and we have anecdotal evidence that young people using them have coughed up blood, experienced nose bleeds and nausea.
“We will be writing to retailers with guidance on these products and advising them to return any stock that does not comply with the legal requirements. We will continue to monitor sales of nicotine vapour products and will not hesitate to take enforcement action against any retailer who continues to stock these potentially harmful products.”
Several of the brands seized by Trading Standards don't appear to be registered with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), so officers are working with the agency to confirm registration status and identify if any of the products seized contain banned substances.
