1 minute read
Illegal Tobacco Seized
by 55 North
ILLICIT TRADE: TRADING STANDARDS
Fight against illicit tobacco goes on
Trading standards in Warwickshire and Northamptonshire have taken thousands of illegal cigarettes off the streets.
Illegal cigarettes and tobacco have been seized in Warwickshire after they were discovered below a manhole cover, suspended above an open drain at the rear of a shop in Rugby. (video link: https://youtu.be/upHKTDlYD8A).
More than 44,000 cigarettes and more than 400 packets of hand-rolling tobacco were seized when Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards Officers carried out raids on two shops in Rugby town centre.
Acting on intelligence, officers visited two premises and discovered tobacco hidden in a drain, in a wheelie bin, a flat behind one of the shops, and in a rear storeroom.
Lord Toby Harris, Chair of National Trading Standards, said: “The National Trading Standards initiative in partnership with HRMC is playing a significant role in disrupting this illicit trade and is helping to take illegal tobacco products off the streets.”
Meanwhile, more than 3,500 packets of illegal cigarettes were seized from shops in Northampton during a crackdown. The haul was sniffed out by tobacco detection dogs as part of an operation led by trading standards officers from West Northamptonshire Council. The operation, which was supported by the council’s Environmental Health and Licensing team and Northamptonshire Police, visited 15 shops across Northampton.
A total of 1,129 packets of illegal cigarettes were seized from one shop, while 2,483 packets were seized from another. Packets of illegal hand rolling tobacco were also recovered from both premises.
All the items were illegally imported into the country without duty being paid and do not comply with UK legal packaging and labelling requirements. A number of them are also suspected to be counterfeits of popular brands.
Councillor David Smith, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Engagement and Regulatory Services on West Northamptonshire Council, said: “I hope the results of this operation send a strong message that if shopkeepers deal in illegal tobacco, they should expect to be caught.”
Further investigations are under way to decide what action should be taken.
