Illegal vape shops have been handing out free vapes to children as young as 11 in exchange for sexual favours, an investigation has alleged, with enforcement officers in the West Midlands warning that a new grooming epidemic may be taking hold.
A Trading Standards enforcement team in Dudley, operating as part of efforts to crack down on shops selling illegal vapes and age-restricted products to minors, told Channel 4 News they had uncovered deeply troubling connections between rogue retailers and criminal networks. Enforcement officer Richard Timmins said: “I had one the other day, a child as young as 11 purchasing vapes from a shop — it’s just disgusting.”
His colleague Kuldeep described finding condoms in the pockets of shop workers during raids, as well as a book written in Kurdish that had been translated into English phrases including “you’re pretty,” “I love your hair” and “you’re young and beautiful.” Officers said they had received intelligence reports of children as young as 12 being driven by car to unknown locations by men connected to shops under investigation.
During a raid filmed by Channel 4 News, officers shut down a West Midlands shop that had previously been caught selling vapes to children with no questions asked during an undercover sting. The premises had passed through two previous owners, one of whom had been charged with rape and strangulation. Officers said they suspected the former owner may still have involvement in the business despite no longer appearing as its registered operator.
As the shop was closed, a man identifying himself as the current owner, Javid, disputed any wrongdoing, insisting the previous illegal activity had occurred under his predecessor. However, officers later observed him meeting one of the shop’s former owners — a man previously evicted for selling illegal vapes and tobacco. Timmins said: “It just shows that even though he’s been evicted, he will still be the business owner.” The connection was said to link the shop to an individual carrying police markers for sexual offences, violence and firearms — allegations that man denies.
The Channel 4 investigation came against a backdrop of a large-scale national enforcement operation. In November 2025, the National Crime Agency led a series of targeted raids on mini-marts, barbers, vape shops and takeaways across Britain, resulting in more than 920 arrests and nearly 3,000 businesses being visited. Millions of illegal products were discovered, large sums of cash seized and 70 kilograms of cannabis recovered. More than 340 notices were also issued for illegal renting and working.
The NCA estimates that approximately £12 billion in criminal money is generated in Britain every year and laundered back into further criminal activity. Trading Standards teams have indicated their investigations into the use of vapes to groom vulnerable children are continuing.
