Over £6,500 of illegal tobacco and cigarettes seized in Haringey

Over 9,000 illegal cigarettes as well as 2.5kg of counterfeit hand rolling tobacco worth £6,500 from three businesses in Haringey recently.

The seizure of illicit cigarettes and counterfeit tobacco was done by Haringey Council together with Trading Standards.

According to local reports, a shop worker was caught off guard as officers walked into an off licence located in Bounds Green. The dog sniffed out 640 illegal cigarettes which were not duty paid as well as a packet of tablets which are not licenced for sale in the UK outside of registered pharmacies.

The second shop to face enforcement action, following procession of counterfeit tobacco products is located on Lordship Lane. A locked metal cabinet in the garden of an adjacent premises was discovered by the team’s sniffer dog and was opened by officers who found the keys in the shop. A total of 6800 illegal cigarettes and over 2kg of counterfeit hand rolling tobacco was found.

Further investigations were carried out on Green Lanes and an additional 1600 cigarettes as well as 500g of hand rolling tobacco – all of which was not duty paid – was found in one of the shops. When officers identified themselves to the shop workers, they were directed to speak with the alleged manager. However, this was in fact an attempt to pass carrier bags over the counter to a man on the customer side. Officers were quick to react and seized the products.

Cllr Adam Jogee, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Cohesion, said: “Thanks to our trading standard officers and our two amazing detection dogs, Dipper and Sky, we have prevented the sale of illegal tobacco being sold to our residents.

“These efforts are a crucial step forward as continue to uphold the integrity of our local markets, protect the community as well as curb the illegal tobacco trade in our borough.

“The health and wellbeing of local people will always remain a top priority. We are committed to doing everything we can to ensure those who do not obey the law are faced with tough enforcement action. In other words, tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime”

A thorough investigation will be carried out into each of the business.