A preliminary exploration of the illegal vape trade in the Netherlands
E-cigarettes, or vapes, are everywhere: on the streets, on social media, in the news and in films. Public attention is high, and concerns about vape use by minors and the associated health risks are even higher.
The media provides fragmented information about how (illegal) vapes end up in the hands of young people. Meanwhile, the underlying mechanisms and the chain of this trade remain largely unknown. Until now, there has been a lack of consolidated knowledge about the entire (illegal) vape market in the Netherlands. What is its size? What are the illegal aspects? And above all: is this trade associated with more serious crime?
The research
‘Dark Clouds’ is the first exploratory research report to examine the illegal vape trade in the Netherlands. The key findings:
- 87 per cent of vapers appear to use illegal vapes and/or vapes obtained through an illegal sales channel.
- The production and export of vapes takes place mainly in and from China.
- Vapes are sold in physical shops in the Netherlands, online shops and physical shops abroad, but also via social media and dealers (mainly among young people).
- The study distinguishes between various actors in the vape trade. Examples include the subcontractor and the vulnerable dealer. There is a self-perpetuating supply chain.
- The study shows that actors in the illegal vape trade may sometimes also be involved in other forms of crime.
Based on the findings, the researchers formulate concrete recommendations for policy and enforcement, as well as guidelines for a specific approach for each actor involved in the trade. Finally, they make suggestions for future research to gain a better understanding of this issue.
Originator
Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport
Authors
Emily Berger, Emma Derksen, Christa Dinnissen en Juno van Esseveldt
Download
Dark clouds (summary ENG)
