Sandwell Council on Tuesday (May 6) has issued a warning to businesses that sell goods illegally after seizing more than three quarters of a million pounds worth of illicit tobacco and illegal vapes over the past year.
The council also claimed that nearly half of shops tested sold items illegally to children. In partnership with Sandwell Police, the council aims to stop the sale of knives to children as well as the sale of illicit tobacco and illegal vapes.
Over the past year, council trading standards officers, supported by police and public health, seized the following products – valued at £763,393.93 in total from shops across Sandwell. The seizure includes:
- 641,780 illicit cigarettes (32,089 packs of 20) valued at £353,872.30
- 29,178 illegal over-capacity vapes valued at £343,727
- 88.40kg of illicit hand-rolled tobacco (1,768 50g pouches) valued at £59,202
- 144kg of illegal tobacco-based shisha and nicotine pouches valued at £6,592.63
Trading standards also conducted a series of undercover test purchases with young volunteers to check businesses were complying with the rules on selling age-restricted products.
The young volunteers tried to buy knives, alcohol and vapes from various shops across Sandwell. Out of the 58 premises visited, 27 (47 per cent) illegally sold age-restricted products to the young volunteer.
The council said it will take action against shops that break the rules and will issue warnings, apply for closure orders, bring prosecutions and can review a shop’s licence, where held, which will impact on their business.
Councillor Suzanne Hartwell, Sandwell Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community, said: “All businesses have a clear responsibility to customers and the wider community.
“We must do all we can to keep knives off our streets. People’s safety and health cannot be put at risk and it’s very worrying that knives, alcohol and vapes are being sold to children.
“And the financial gains from illicit tobacco and illegal vape sales often fund organised crime, money laundering and human trafficking.”
Councillor Jackie Taylor, Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Wellbeing, added, “Cheap, illicit tobacco is a direct threat to honest shopkeepers, who can’t compete with the lower prices offered by illicit sellers, and undermines efforts to help people quit smoking.
“Illegal vapes and illicit tobacco products have not gone through the same safety tests and can pose severe risks to health.
“Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable illness and premature death in the UK, with long-term use responsible for killing one in two smokers. Support is available in Sandwell for anyone who wants to quit.”
