Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Trading Standards team, in partnership with local police and a specialist tobacco detection dog from JMS Accelerant Search, has uncovered a significant haul of illicit goods during a raid on a storage site in Etruria.
The enforcement action, carried out on July 23, resulted in the seizure of 638,380 illegal cigarettes, 108kg of hand-rolling tobacco, and 1,262 vapes. The products, found stored in two hired shipping containers, have a combined estimated retail value of £671,363.
The individual responsible for hiring the containers is currently under investigation.
The operation forms part of Operation CeCe, a national initiative led by HMRC and National Trading Standards targeting the supply and distribution of illegal tobacco products across the UK.
Councillor Amjid Wazir, cabinet member for city pride, environment and sustainability at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “This work clearly shows that illegal tobacco sales will not be tolerated. Those involved in the storage, distribution, or sale of illicit tobacco will face serious consequences.
“Smuggling and counterfeiting on this scale is organised crime - the shops these goods were destined for don’t care who they sell to and are happy to sell to the city's children.
“Our message is clear, those engaging in crime will be held accountable. We are committed to making Stoke-on-Trent a greener, fairer, cleaner, safer city and keeping these substances off our streets.”
Lord Michael Bichard, Chair, National Trading Standards, said: “The illicit tobacco trade is driven by organised criminal gangs and poses serious risks to local communities, especially young people.
“Since its launch in January 2021, Operation CeCe – a National Trading Standards initiative in partnership with HMRC – has removed 69 million illegal cigarettes, 19,750kg of hand-rolling tobacco and almost 175kg of shisha products from sale, helping to clamp down on this illicit trade and protect communities and honest businesses across the UK.”