SHOP owners who sell dodgy vapes face jail and a £10,000 fine under tougher penalties to be unveiled in the Budget.
Rachel Reeves will give border cops and tax officials sweeping new powers to crack down on illegal e cigs flooding Britain’s high streets.
Under the shake-up, all vapes sold in the UK will have to carry a digital duty stamp, including QR code – making it easy to spot a fake.
Officers will be able to seize illegal vapes on the spot and slap dodgy traders selling them with fines of up to £10,000.
Businesses who continue to sell dodgy vapes will face new criminal penalties and even jail.
A government source said: “Britain’s high streets are being flooded with illegal vapes by rogue traders.
“The Chancellor will crack down hard – giving Border Force and HMRC the power to seize dodgy vapes on the spot and hit offenders with £10,000 fines.
“We’re protecting shoppers and backing honest businesses.”
Ministers believe the new powers will crack down on criminal gangs making fortunes trading in the vapes black market.
It will also protect smokers from inhaling unregulated and potentially dangerous vapes.
Businesses manufacturing vaping liquid in the UK will be able to register for the scheme from April 2026.
The scheme will become compulsory nationwide from October 2026.
Shops will have a six month grace period to sell any unstamped stock.
