Around 40,000 illegal cigarettes and 5kg of illegal tobacco have been seized in Hull.
Enforcement officers from Hull City Council’s Trading Standards team used tobacco detection dogs to find the contraband – which was equivalent to around 2,000 packs of cigarettes and 100 pouches of tobacco – during intelligence-led inspections at a number of businesses in the West Hull area. Investigations are now underway.
There can be serious penalties for those found guilty of selling illegal tobacco. In addition to potentially losing their license to sell alcohol, offenders can receive fines of up to £5,000 or a prison sentence of up to two years.
The Trading Standards team regularly carry out inspections at local shops, working with local partners and detection dogs to find illegal tobacco and take it out of circulation.
Chris Wilson, City Trading Standards Officer, said: “We regularly seize illegal cigarettes and tobacco. People may see illegal tobacco as a cheap alternative, but there are many problems associated with it.
“The lower price means its accessible for children and can prevent smokers from making the decision to give up. It’s a myth, however, that illegal cigarettes and tobacco contain chemicals and rat droppings.
“It is organised crime which is behind this trade and those involved make a lot of money out of it. They go to great lengths to prevent us finding the illegal tobacco, including sophisticated ways to conceal the products within the shop, however the tobacco detection dogs usually find it”.
Report information related to the sale of illegal tobacco at www.keep-it-out.co.uk or call the tobacco hotline on: 0300 999 0000.
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