Thousands of counterfeit cigarettes seized in Trading Standards clampdown

More than 36,000 illicit cigarettes have been seized in a Trading Standards operation led by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.

Trading Standards officers visited five premises on Tuesday, 20 February with support from Cleveland Police and a Tobacco Detection dog and seized 36,060 illicit cigarettes, 9.7kg of illicit hand-rolling tobacco and 22 overcapacity vapes.

Councillor Norma Stephenson, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Access, Communities and Community Safety, said: "Sales of counterfeit cigarettes, tobacco and vapes are illegal and highly dangerous to public health because the contents of these items are unknown and can't be regulated.

"We have worked closely with our partners at Cleveland Police and National Trading Standards to clampdown on sales of such items across our Borough. I'd like to assure our residents that all of the products will be destroyed and investigations into the premises are now underway.  

"All licensees have a legal duty to ensure the items they sell to customer are genuine, so if anyone has concerns about counterfeit products of any description, please report them to the Council's Trading Standards team on 01642 526560 or email trading.standards@stockton.gov.uk."

Sergeant Mitch Baldwin from Stockton's Neighbourhood Police Team (NPT) said: "Illegal tobacco causes real harm to our communities. We will continue to work closely with Trading Standards to clamp down on illicit goods and protect the local community.

"We know these goods can directly fund organised crime and through this partnership working, we are cutting off the income stream to criminals."

Lord Michael Bichard, Chair, National Trading Standards, said: "The trade in illegal tobacco harms local communities and affects honest businesses operating within the law. Having removed 27 million illegal cigarettes, 7,500kg of hand rolling tobacco and almost 175kg of shisha products from sale, the National Trading Standards initiative in partnership with HMRC continues to successfully disrupt this illicit trade."

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