Illegal tobacco seized in Trading Standards raids

Thousands more illegal cigarettes have been removed from sale thanks to the latest crackdown by West Northamptonshire’s Trading Standards Team.

The operation, supported by Northamptonshire Police, saw officers visit eight shops in Northampton and Daventry, making seizures at seven of them.

In total the team uncovered:

• 3,743 packets of illicit cigarettes
• 23kg of illegal hand-rolling tobacco
• 198 illegal vapes.

In three instances items were found hidden in cars parked outside the shop, with one haul discovered behind a false wall, and another on electric-powered shelving concealed under the shop’s serving counter.

The operation, which took place over 25 and 26 March, followed a similar initiative in February, during which officers confiscated more than 4,000 illicit cigarettes together with hundreds of illegal vapes and tobacco pouches, and £10,000 in cash.

As in February, the cigarettes and tobacco seized included foreign labelled products with no UK duty paid, along with counterfeits and ‘cheap whites’ – none of which meet British safety standards. The vapes are illegal under the single use vape ban brought in last June. Everything seized will now be destroyed.

Two of the shops visited had also been caught with illegal cigarettes during that previous operation, and Trading Standards officers are now working with partners and landlords of the premises to take further action, including steps to prevent those businesses from trading in future.

“The action we’re taking here in West Northamptonshire is part of national efforts to stamp out this illegal market.

“Joint operations like these have already removed thousands of illegal cigarettes and vapes from sale locally, and our Trading Standards officer will continue to work closely with the police and other partners to take firm, coordinated action against anyone who chooses to break the law and put the public at risk.”Councillor Andrew Last, Cabinet Member for HR, Corporate and Regulatory Services at West Northamptonshire Council

“Illegal tobacco and illicit vapes are not harmless bargains - they are often linked to organised criminal activity and pose real risks to public safety.

“The concealment methods uncovered during this operation show the lengths some businesses will go to in order to evade the law, and we will not hesitate to take firm action against those who choose to profit from illegal and unsafe goods.

“Our officers will continue to work closely with Trading Standards to identify and disrupt the supply of these products across Northamptonshire.”Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Tor Lindsay

Residents can report illegal tobacco and vapes activity to West Northamptonshire Trading Standards or by phoning the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.