£250k worth of illegal tobacco seized from Kettering storage unit
708 packs of hand rolling tobacco and 325,080 individual cigarettes were found at the scene
A major haul of illicit tobacco products – worth over £250,000 – has been uncovered at a self-storage facility in Kettering.
The discovery was made on Friday, August 8, during a joint operation between officers from Kettering's Neighbourhood Policing Team and Trading Standards officers from North Northamptonshire Council.
The raid was launched following a tip-off suggesting that large quantities of illegal tobacco were being stored in a container at the site. While no individuals were present during the search, officers found a staggering 325,080 individual cigarettes (equivalent to 16,254 packets) and 708 packs of hand-rolling tobacco. The street value of the seizure is estimated at £258,000.
PC James Batten from the Kettering team credited the find to public cooperation:
“This great result was made possible thanks to community intelligence – people telling us what they know, see or hear.
When we receive reports like this, we work with the relevant partners to build up a picture of potentially illegal activity and take action against it.
Illegal tobacco products may well be fake, and carry increased health risks, as well as often being linked to organised crime.
I’d like to thank everyone who shared information with us – as this joint agency work shows, we will act on what you tell us to protect our communities and prevent and detect crime.”
North Northamptonshire Council also praised the collaborative effort. Councillor Kirk Harrison, Executive Member for Regulatory Services, said:
“We have a zero-tolerance approach around illegal tobacco products. The cigarettes and tobacco seized had the potential to harm individuals and our communities. This latest seizure is an excellent example of effective partnership working and our thanks go to the officers involved in the case and their ongoing work.
It's important for our residents to know that those involved in this type of illicit activity often have links into wider criminality. If members of the public are concerned about the sale of illegal cigarettes, tobacco or vapes, I’d urge them to report it to Trading Standards.”
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the sale or storage of illegal tobacco products to come forward, highlighting the vital role public reporting plays in tackling crime.