Boat parties raided along the Thames in hunt for vape spikers

Predators spiking vapes on party boats on the Thames during Freshers week are being hunted down using new gadgets unveiled by the Met.

The detectors can be used to find traces of substances like spice and THC in vapes after they are tampered with by suspects.

The technology described as something out of James Bond is part of a series of kit used to identify those preying on revellers enjoying a night out.

It has already been trialled in raids on clubs and bars in the capital but last night was the first time the Met’s maritime unit has been equipped with the testers, which analyse whether a vape has been spiked.

The new device will be given to the police who patrol the Thames so they can board party boats and test for spiking.

Operation Albenga was launched on Thursday to coincide with Freshers’ week, when new students party before starting their courses.

An increasing number of schoolchildren are smoking vapes filled with spice, the street name for a family of synthetic substances that mimic the effects of marijuana but can cause ‘zombie-like’ symptoms.

Sellers swap out the factory e-liquid vial with their own spice-spiked one, often flogging them as containing THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, a chemical in cannabis which makes people ‘high’.

It is part of the response to the wider issue of spoiling, which is usually associated with drinks. The officers boarded party boats leaving Westminster Pier on Thursday.

Between March 2024 and March 2025, the Met received over 2,000 allegations of spiking, around 150 every month – though the true scale of the crime is believed to be higher due to underreporting.

The crime disproportionately affects women and girls, with 66% of victims in August 2025 being female. Offenders are most active in and around busy nightlife venues, with 17% of reports linked to Westminster and the West End.

Minister for Safeguarding of Violence against Women and Girls Jess Phillips joined Met officers for the launch of the operation against spiking.

She told Metro: ‘The technology is amazing, it’s something like Q would come up with for James Bond.

‘I want women and young girls to be able to go out and have a good time without second-guessing what will happen.

Philips said that victims of vape spiking need to be taken ‘seriously, even offering her own vape to be tested to show how the technology was used.

She added: ‘When we went on the party boat, people seemed genuinely pleased to see the police. We are here to reassure people that we are working hard on this.’

No one was arrested for drugs found when the police boarded the party boats

The Met’s Marine Support Unit is leading Operation Albenga, working in collaboration with the Met’s licensing teams, drug dogs, safer transport, and the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) team.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ben Russell said: ‘Spiking is an abhorrent crime that we are tackling head-on, whether it takes place in a nightclub, a private venue, or on the Thames.

‘The ongoing trial of new vape spiking detection kits is just one example of how we are innovating to get ahead of offenders and better protect the public.

‘This is part of our wider commitment under the VAWG strategy to protect women and girls across London. We are working with partners in licensing, education and the night-time economy to disrupt offenders, raise awareness and, crucially, support victims.

‘If you think you’ve been spiked, please come forward -being spiked is never your fault – it’s always the fault of the perpetrator. The sooner we know, the more we can do to support you, collect evidence and stop dangerous offenders from targeting others.’

The Met is also testing a range of different mobile drug testing equipment, which assists rapid drug identification – including near infra-red detectors that can quickly test a wide range of powders and tablets suspected of containing controlled drugs, supported by a mobile phone app.

The Met has been speaking to colleges and businesses about the dangers of spiking and say it is unreported.

Eren Bessim from the Safer Business Network said: ‘We know spiking remains a concern for many people, particularly students and young people returning to the city this autumn.

‘By working in partnership with the MPS, local authorities, and venues, we are equipping frontline teams with the confidence and knowledge they need to prevent and respond to incidents of vulnerability — making London’s day and nightlife safer and more welcoming for everyone.’

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