Thousands of illegal cigarettes and vapes seized in Northamptonshire
Latest operation targeted shops in Northampton and Daventry
Thousands of illegal cigarettes, hand-rolling tobacco, and vapes have been seized in a recent operation led by West Northamptonshire’s Trading Standards Team.
The team, supported by Northamptonshire Police, visited eight shops in Northampton and Daventry, making seizures in seven of them.
In total, 3,743 packets of illicit cigarettes, 23kg of illegal hand-rolling tobacco, and 198 illegal vapes were discovered.
Items were found hidden in creative places, including cars parked outside the premises, a false wall, and electric-powered shelving concealed under shop counters.
The operation follows a similar initiative in February, during which the team confiscated over 4,000 illicit cigarettes, illegal vapes, tobacco pouches, and £10,000 in cash.
The seized cigarettes and tobacco included foreign-labelled products without UK duty paid, counterfeit items, and ‘cheap whites’, which do not meet British safety standards.
The vapes are illegal under the single-use vape ban implemented last June.
Everything confiscated will be destroyed.
Trading Standards officers are collaborating with partners and landlords of the premises to take further action, potentially preventing these businesses from continuing to trade.
Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Tor Lindsay explained why operations like this are important:
"Illegal tobacco and illicit vapes are not harmless bargains - they are often linked to organised criminal activity and pose real risks to public safety.
“The concealment methods uncovered during this operation show the lengths some businesses will go to in order to evade the law, and we will not hesitate to take firm action against those who choose to profit from illegal and unsafe goods.
“Our officers will continue to work closely with Trading Standards to identify and disrupt the supply of these products across Northamptonshire.”