LONDON: Four million cigarettes have been seized during a campaign against the illegal tobacco trade.
A network of trading standards teams across the East Midlands teamed up with HM Revenue and Customs, police and the UK Border Force two years ago to track down people selling fakes and real products on which duty had not been paid.
In that time, the groups said, they have made significant seizures – including a total of two tonnes of rolling tobacco – and arrested more than 100 suspects.
The groups said the regional partnership was the key to their success.
The seized cigarettes and tobacco equate to a loss of about £1.5 million in tax revenue. The largest single seizure in the past two years was in Leicestershire, when officials recovered three-quarters of a tonne of rolling tobacco.
Officials are targeting rogue retailers, as well as individuals who operate from their home or pub.
The campaign is funded by trading standards and Public Health.
Mark Walker, chairman of Trading Standards East Midlands, said: “By working closer and in partnership with other enforcement agencies, we can do more than simply ploughing our own furrow. The results how true this is.”
Chris Kenny, chairman of East Midlands Directors of Public Health, said: “Reducing the availability of cheap, illicit cigarettes will reduce their availability to children and therefore the likelihood that they will become hooked on smoking.
“That’s why we are keen supporters of this project.”
A Leicester shop owner, who did not want to be named, told the Mercury last year the trade in illegal tobacco had hit his sales.
He said: “We know the illegal market is huge and is a big reason for the drop in sales.
“Occasionally, we will be visited by people offering to sell these cigarettes to us.
“Their prices are very low and they say we should sell them under the counter.”
