6,000 counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes seized in Oxfordshire
Latest raid conducted by trading standards in Oxfordshire
Thousands of counterfeit cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco products have been confiscated following a raid by Oxfordshire County Council’s trading standards team.
On the evening of 1st May, officials revisited premises already under investigation as part of Operation CeCe, a national initiative aimed at tackling the illegal tobacco trade. This effort, funded by HMRC and led by National Trading Standards, follows previous raids conducted earlier this year.
Despite conducting interviews with the director of a company linked to the premises on the same day, officers uncovered further illicit tobacco hidden within the property. The operation led to the seizure of 5,900 counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes and 950 grams of hand rolling tobacco.
The latest action follows raids carried out in March at seven locations across Cowley and Headington, where officers discovered over 13,000 illicit cigarettes, nearly nine kilograms of illegal tobacco products, along with nicotine pouches and single-use vapes.
Two specific premises were chosen for revisits due to evidence suggesting ongoing illegal activities. Investigations are currently in progress, with businesses potentially facing criminal prosecution, financial penalties, and licence reviews.
Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: “We hear people’s concerns about the changing face of their high streets and the rise of shops used as fronts for crime. Our message is simple: stop funding organised crime. Every time someone buys counterfeit cigarettes, the money helps criminal activity take hold in our communities.”
Davina Walkin, Oxfordshire County Council’s Trading Standards Operations Manager, added: “Despite previous enforcement action and clear warnings, some businesses are still willing to take the risk. These latest seizures show we are even more determined to act whenever and wherever necessary, including late at night and over bank holiday weekends, to protect our communities.”