Thousands of illegal cigarettes seized in Trowbridge
It was part of a south-west wide week of action against illegal tobacco sellers
Over 5000 illegal cigarettes and a kilogram of tobacco has been seized by Trading Standards Officers in Trowbridge.
It was part of Operation CeCe, a nationally funded illegal tobacco disruption operation, during a week of action in March led by Trading Standards South West.
Officers were supported by police as they seized thousands of illegal cigarettes and 1kg of illegal hand rolling tobacco.
Money made from selling cheap, illegal and easily accessible tobacco and vapes to young people is used by organised crime gangs to fund other illegal activities, including drugs, modern day slavery and people trafficking.
Across the south west, several sophisticated concealments have been identified by Trading Standards officers as criminals go to great lengths in attempting to hide their stock.
Parvis Khansari, Wiltshire Council Corporate Director, Place, said: “This operation sends out a clear message that this sort of illegal activity will not be tolerated in Wiltshire.”
Kate Blackburn, Director of Public Health – Wiltshire, said: “Smoking is the leading cause of preventable illness and death in England, killing two out of three smokers.
“Cheap, illegal tobacco undermines smokers’ attempts to quit their addiction and is also more easily available to children and young people. Support to quit, and information about our Smoke Free app, can be found at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/smokefree.”
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 60,473,235 cigarettes and 16,416kg of hand rolling tobacco between 1st January 2001 and 30th September 2024 in England and Wales, Operation CeCe (a National Trading Standards initiative in partnership with HMRC) has taken £35.3million pounds worth of illicit tobacco off the market since the operation launched in 2021 and continues to successfully disrupt this illicit trade.”
Ben Hayes is the regional illegal tobacco and vape lead in the South West, co-ordinating Op CeCe's work.
He said: “This has been another successful multi-agency operation to tackle the illegal tobacco disruption, and the criminals who operate in our communities. Members of public need to be aware of serious criminal association that these products have to criminal gangs.
"I urge anyone with concerns about sales of the illegal tobacco and vaping products, including their underage sales, to report them to Trading Standards South West www.tssw.org.uk/report-it you may have the missing piece of information that we need to disrupt serious and organised crime. “
Sales of illegal tobacco and/or vapes can be reported anonymously to the Trading Standards South West team at www.tssw.org.uk/report-it or by calling the Citizens Advice consumer advice line on 0808 223 1133.