By Adam Morris
Thousands of illicit vapes were seized in Glasgow in the year before the fire which devastated a historic corner of the city centre.
Research by 1919 has revealed that trading standards officers confiscated 11,500 vapes or associated material in 2025, nearly double the figure from the previous year.
The booming popularity of e-cigarettes has caused concern across the health and justice landscape in Scotland, with young people accessing the addictive devices in their droves.
The trading of vapes was brought into sharp focus when a shop selling the products was found to be the likely source of the Union Street fire in March. Some politicians even called for all vape shops to be banned.
The seizing of illegal vapes by local authority officials in Scotland’s biggest city – the equivalent of 31 a day – has been on the rise. In 2023, there were 2,853 products confiscated, followed by 6,186 in 2024.
New laws banning the sale of single-use vapes were introduced last summer.
Sheila Duffy, ASH Scotland
Sheila Duffy, chief executive of ASH Scotland, a charity which campaigns against tobacco and e-cigarettes, said: “Vapes are commercial, recreational products marketed for profit and are used by far more children than adults.
“The increasing number of illicit vapes being sold in Glasgow is alarming, and demands action to ensure the city’s trading standards team is adequately equipped.
“With there being such a sharp increase in the seizure of illicit or illegal vapes, we are curious as to whether perhaps some retailers continued to sell those types of health-harming vapes after the groundbreaking regulations were implemented.
“In the aftermath of the Glasgow fire, it is vital that government and all relevant authorities take the necessary steps to protect public health and safety.”
Glasgow is very much the epicentre of Scotland’s illicit vape trade.
Further research by 1919 found that while trading standards officials in other cities are also taking action, the numbers are far smaller.
In 2025 there were 195 seizures in Aberdeen, 291 in Dundee, and 455 in Edinburgh, where numbers have declined significantly in recent years.
It was also revealed by 1919 last month that vapes have placed additional strain on the fire brigade. Firefighters were called to 41 fires caused by e-cigarettes between 2021 and 2025.
David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, said the sheer visibility of vapes – especially among young people – reflected poorly on the justice system in general.
“Everyone can see what’s going on but, realistically, police just don’t have the numbers to go into every shop selling illegal vapes and take action,” he said.
“This is where community policing has a vital role, gathering intelligence from people about where these vapes are coming from and being bought.
“We need to do more because it’s a health emergency waiting to happen.”
Glasgow City Council was approached for comment.
