Huge stash of illicit tobacco seized from Furness stores

Huge amount of illegal cigarettes and vapes were discovered recently by Westmorland and Furness Trading Standards and Cumbria Police from retail premises across the Furness area.

This operation took place as part of Operation CeCe which is a joint initiative between National Trading Standards and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) as part of a wider government strategy to disrupt every aspect of the illegal tobacco market. It seeks to protect local communities from the harm that the illegal tobacco trade causes through undermining work to reduce smoking prevalence and bringing crime to our neighbourhoods.

As reported by Westmorland & Furness Council stated on Monday (15), sniffer dogs provided by Wagtail UK helped in uncovering thousands of packets of illegal cigarettes, hand rolling tobacco and vapes which had been carefully concealed in a metal container under the floor in the storeroom of a high street premise.

Officers had to enlist the support of Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service to help break open the concealment. In total 6840 cigarettes, 4.85 kilograms of hand rolling tobacco, 196 vapes and over £2000 in cash was seized by Trading Standards and Cumbria Police.

Councillor Neil Hughes, Cabinet Member for Transport and Regulatory Services said, “Removing illegal tobacco and vapes from the marketplace is a priority for our Trading Standards service and this was yet another successful operation”.

“Shops selling these products will do anything to keep their illegal trade hidden from our officers but with the help of sniffer dogs like Pippa and Louis, there’s no hiding place. The illegal tobacco trade has strong links with organised crime and criminal gangs so we are pleased that the operation was a success.”

Sergeant Paul Holmes, Barrow Neighbourhood Policing Team, said, "Selling illegal tobacco products is a serious offence and one which can have a significant impact on the health and safety of those purchasing such goods. The illegal tobacco and vaping market undermine other retailers who are operating and trading within the law.

“Often the sale of illicit tobacco helps fund organised crime which causes wider implications in the community. Any reports made to authorities regarding businesses selling such products are investigated robustly.”