A new report reveals that nearly half of all cigarettes consumed in the United Kingdom are now sourced from the illicit market, fueling organized crime and leading to significant tax revenue losses.
A new report reveals that nearly half of all cigarettes consumed in the United Kingdom are now sourced from the illicit market, fueling organized crime and leading to significant tax revenue losses. PULSE POINTS WHAT HAPPENED: A KPMG report commissioned by Philip Morris International reveals that 45 percent of cigarettes consumed in the United Kingdom in 2025 were non-duty-paid, with 32.3 percent being counterfeit or contraband. IMPACT: The illicit cigarette market cost Britain’s Treasury an estimated £4.46 billion (~$6bn) in lost tax revenue. The country has the highest taxes on tobacco products in Europe, and the second-largest illicit market, behind only France—where such taxes have risen rapidly in recent years.…Open
The British government is having to launch a major task force to tackle money laundering, illegal employment, and organized crime tied to vape stores and other dubious high street businesses.
The British government is having to launch a major task force to tackle money laundering, illegal employment, and organized crime tied to vape stores and other dubious high street businesses. PULSE POINTS WHAT HAPPENED: The British government has unveiled a £30 million (~$40m) initiative to combat organized crime linked to high street businesses, particularly vape stores , barber shops , and mini-marts . The crackdown will involve raids, closures, and cash seizures targeting operations tied to money laundering , tax evasion, and illegal immigration and employment. DETAIL: The task force will consist of 75 officers from various British police forces and the National Crime Agency (NCA), roughly equivalent to the Federal Bureau of…Open
PULSE POINTSWHAT HAPPENED: The first vape store in West Kirby, England, was shut down due to “criminality and antisocial behaviour.”WHO WAS INVOLVED: Wirral Council, The West Kirby Vape Shop, and its director, Khalid Qader.WHEN & WHERE: The store was closed in March 2026; it was located in West Kirby, in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral.IMPACT: […] The post Town’s First Vape Store Closed Down Within Months After Becoming Hub for ‘Crime and Antisocial Behavior.’ appeared first on The National Pulse .
PULSE POINTS WHAT HAPPENED: The first vape store in West Kirby, England, was shut down due to “criminality and antisocial behaviour.” WHO WAS INVOLVED: Wirral Council, The West Kirby Vape Shop, and its director, Khalid Qader. WHEN & WHERE: The store was closed in March 2026; it was located in West Kirby, in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral. IMPACT: The closure order underscores the link between vape stores and criminal activity, dangerous goods, and illegal working. IN FULL The first vape store to open in West Kirby, England, has been forced to close just months after launching in October 2025, due to “criminality and antisocial behaviour.” Wirral Council enforcement officers who inspected the premises discovered a suspicious…Open
PULSE POINTSWHAT HAPPENED: Four men were arrested and $2.3 million was seized during raids at vape stores in Kinston, North Carolina.WHO WAS INVOLVED: Fatehi Alshoabi, Khaled Almaqaleh, Ibrahim Nagi, and Emad Ali were arrested.WHEN & WHERE: The raids took place in March 2026 in Kinston, involving 26 businesses and eight homes.KEY QUOTE: “When we’re consistently […] The post Raids on Vape Stores See Four Arrests, Drugs and Millions in Cash Seized. appeared first on The National Pulse .
PULSE POINTS WHAT HAPPENED: Four men were arrested and $2.3 million was seized during raids at vape stores in Kinston, North Carolina. WHO WAS INVOLVED: Fatehi Alshoabi, Khaled Almaqaleh, Ibrahim Nagi, and Emad Ali were arrested. WHEN & WHERE: The raids took place in March 2026 in Kinston, involving 26 businesses and eight homes. KEY QUOTE: “When we’re consistently getting complaints from our community members, specifically parents with children 15, 16, 17 years old going to these shops to buy illegal narcotics, we’re going to take it extremely seriously.” – Chief Keith Goyette IMPACT: The operation provides more evidence that vape stores are hubs for organized crime and dealing illegal narcotics , on both sides of the…Open