Nearly 10,000 cigarettes seized following trading standards operation
Almost 10,000 counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes and other tobacco and nicotine based products have been seized following a series of visits to retail premises by Oxfordshire County Council’s trading standards team.
The raids, carried out on 21 January, were part of Operation CeCe, a national initiative to tackle the sale and supply of illegal tobacco products.
Officers were accompanied by specialist tobacco detection dogs, which can sniff out contraband in concealments within till points or hidden in storerooms.
Premises involved included off-licences, convenience stores, food retailers and barbers in Banbury, Kidlington and Oxford.
The operation resulted in the seizure of 9,340 illegal cigarettes, 700g of counterfeit hand rolling tobacco, 180 unit packs of non-compliant nicotine pouches and 42 disposable electronic cigarettes, or vapes, with a capacity of nicotine containing liquid nine times the maximum allowed.
The total street value of the haul was approximately £5,000.
Councillor Dr Nathan Ley, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, Inequalities and Community Safety: “Our trading standards team, working in partnership with other agencies, will continue to crack down on the sale of these illegal products and cause the maximum disruption possible to criminal networks.
“People can help us to stamp out illegal tobacco and create a healthier and safer county by being vigilant and reporting any suspicious activity using the illegal tobacco hotline.”
Other issues detected were:
- Two premises in breach of their licensing conditions.
- One premises with a concealment operated by electromagnets, although no illegal product was contained within it.
- Four premises with tobacco products on open display, whereas they must be out of sight of customers.
- Two premises with evidence of staff sleeping or living in store rooms, which was referred to other agencies.
Investigations are ongoing, with premises facing potential criminal prosecution, licence reviews and additional sanctions, including financial penalties.
Jody Kerman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Head of Trading Standards, added: “We are serious about taking action whenever we find anyone selling illegal tobacco. Its sale undermines legitimate businesses in Oxfordshire and puts money into the hands of criminals.”
Anyone with information about the illegal sale of tobacco should contact 0300 999 6 999 or report it anonymously online at stop-illegal-tobacco.co.uk
More information
It can be hard to stop using tobacco products, but help is available. People are three times more likely to successfully quit by using a stop smoking service like Smokefree Oxfordshire. The service is free to everyone living in the county.
Photo: The seized haul found by detection dog Billy.
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