One in three Bristol shops caught selling illegal tobacco in undercover operation
Over a third of independent shops in east Bristol were caught selling illegal tobacco during a one-day undercover operation.
They included two retailers who kept the illicit products in cars parked outside and one who supplied tobacco from a neighbouring flat – keeping it off-premises in case there was a raid.
Fourteen of the 41 convenience stores – 34 per cent – in east Bristol where test purchases were carried out sold black-market goods, including three that had been caught before.
The tobacco was stored under counters or in backrooms but in seven instances – half of where it was sold – sellers directed test purchasers off site to buy them.
These included illicit Amber Leaf hand-rolling 50g ranging from £5 to £23, which carries a recommended retail price of more than £46 for a legal pouch, and Platinum cigarettes for just £4.50.
The test purchases took place across the Bristol East constituency area – which includes Easton, St George, Brislington, Knowle and Stockwood – by operatives from JTI, a global tobacco company that campaigns to stamp out criminality in the industry, such as smuggling, illegal sales, and failure to pay required UK duties.
Its products include Silk Cut, Camel and Benson & Hedges cigarettes and Hamlet cigars.
JTI corporate affairs and communications director Nicky Small said: “These findings show exactly why stronger enforcement action is needed.
“With illegal tobacco bought from more than one in three independent stores tested in Bristol East, it is clear that rogue retailers are not being sufficiently deterred by current penalties.
“The Home Secretary’s recent proposal to extend closure orders on illegal shops for longer is welcome, but it must go further.
“Orders need to be backed by bigger fines and more enforcement funding, so criminals are deterred and legitimate retailers are protected.”
All evidence gathered from the test purchases will be handed to trading standards and HM Revenue & Customs.