Vapes (250A/24)
Request
How many illegal vapes have been seized in the past year (January 2023 – January 2024)
Of these vapes, how many were tested for the presence of prohibited substances
Of those tested, how many tested positive for fentanyl
If possible, please can you provide these statistics broken down by month.
Response
Our data are not organised in such a way as to allow us to provide this information within the appropriate (cost) limit within the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act (see ‘Reason for Decision’ below).
Between 01/01/2023 and 01/01/2024 there was a total of 588 sealed bags booked in with the word ‘VAPE’ in the description.
Please note that this does not include the number of vapes inside the sealed bags. This is something that the system does not facilitate. The reasons for such an item / items being booked in could be for multiple reasons.
In order to locate if they were illegal vapes, number of vapes, if they had been tested / reason tested / results of any testing would exceed the 18 hours for the purpose of the FOI act as each individual submission would need to be individual assessed taking at least 10 minutes per record depending if further assessment was required (i.e. testing).
588 sealed bags x 10 mins = 98 hours
I am unable to suggest any practical way in which your request may be modified in order to satisfy your query or bring it within the 18 hours stipulated by the Regulations. I am however willing to consider any refinements that you are able to make to your request, in accordance with Section 16 of the Freedom of Information Act. If you would like to look into refining your request please contact me.
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