Trading Standards officers at Oxfordshire County Council have seized almost 20,000 counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes and over 15kg of hand-rolling and waterpipe tobacco following a series of visits to retail premises across the county.
The operation resulted in the seizure of 18,980 illegal cigarettes, 6.8kg of hand-rolling tobacco and 8.6kg of waterpipe tobacco (commonly known as shisha). The total street value of the haul was approximately £10,000.
Other products seized included 120 nicotine pouches and 263 single-use vapes.
One premises investigated had a sophisticated concealment operated by electromagnets and built at height to try to evade the detection dogs, meanwhile three of the premises had tobacco products on open display. Three of the premises had staff unable to identify the owner of the business.
The raids, carried out on 28 September, were part of Operation CeCe, and included both officers and specialist tobacco detection dogs which can sniff out contraband in concealments within till points or hidden in storerooms.
Investigations into the businesses involved are ongoing, with premises facing potential criminal prosecution and additional sanctions including financial penalties.
Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Councillor Jenny Hannaby, said: “Oxfordshire County Council’s trading standards team will continue to crack down on the sale of these illegal products and cause the maximum disruption possible to criminal networks. People can help us to stamp out illegal tobacco and create a healthier and safer Oxfordshire by being vigilant and reporting any suspicious activity using the illegal tobacco hotline.”
Oxfordshire County Council’s head of prevention, protection and trading standards, Jody Kerman, added: “Make no mistake about it, organised criminals are using illegal tobacco as a commodity to raise cash, which funds serious crime. We would urge the public to stop funding them.
“We know it can be hard to stop smoking, but help is available. People are three times more likely to successfully quit by using a stop smoking service like Smokefree Oxfordshire. The service is free to everyone living in the county.”
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