By Jason Evans
Ethan Smith, a 27-year-old businessman, has been sentenced to 41 months in prison for selling illegal vapes from his shops in Swansea and Llanelli, generating profits of around £300,000. Smith, who operated under the name Rebel Vaper, continued his unlawful sales even after receiving warnings from trading standards officers.
In court, it was revealed that the vapes sold included flavors such as sour apple, peach-mango, and grape, and contained significantly higher nicotine levels than legally permitted. Despite being aware of the legal requirements after receiving guidance from Carmarthenshire County Council in November 2021, Smith persisted in selling these products.
Following complaints and test purchases by local authorities, Smith’s shops were raided multiple times, resulting in the seizure of over 10,000 illegal vapes. Smith displayed aggressive behavior towards officers during these operations, even threatening to lock them inside his shop.
While being interrogated, he claimed to have sold the business for cash in December, despite the leases remaining in his name. Prosecutors noted that Smith’s offending lasted from March 2022 to July 2023, with the financial benefit from his actions amounting to approximately £300,000.
During sentencing, Judge Huw Rees acknowledged Smith’s difficult upbringing but condemned his greed, stating that the initial legitimate business transformed into one that violated laws. The judge reduced Smith’s sentence from five years to 41 months, considering the impact on his family and his guilty plea, which earned him a further discount.
Smith will serve up to half of his sentence in custody before being released on license to complete the remainder in the community.