Latest news with #illegalcigarettes
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Illegal cigarettes and vapes worth £100k seized in Preston
More than £100,000 worth of illegal cigarettes and vapes have been seized as part of an operation to tackle serious and organised Trading Standards and HM Revenue and Customs officers raided five storage units around the Ribbleton and Deepdale areas of Preston, one of the units, illegal vapes worth about £5,000 were seized, in another, 171,000 packs of illegal cigarettes were found, which, if sold as genuine, would be worth about £100,000, Lancashire Police force said the cigarettes and vapes could "contain harmful chemicals" which could lead to people becoming "very unwell". Insp Dave Byrne said it was a "successful operation" which had meant the items were "taken off the streets and are no longer at risk of getting into the hands of children"."We have unfortunately seen cases where people have become very unwell, sometimes even hospitalised, due to the use of illegal vapes so we will continue to work with our partners to ensure they are not able to cause harm," he Roberts of Lancashire County Council, said: "It is very important that we take the strongest possible action against firms who put the health of Lancashire's residents at risk." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Jutyar Jelal Salah jailed for possessing illegal cigarettes
A former shopkeeper has been jailed for 22 months after being convicted of possessing more than 77,000 illegal cigarettes and 16kg (2st 5lb) of hand rolling Jelal Salah was "caught red-handed" by Trading Standards retrieving contraband cigarettes from a container, which he planned to sell via a home delivery 36-year-old owned Easy Shop on Station Street in Spalding, which, according to Lincolnshire County Council, was served with two closure orders in September 2023 and April 2024 after raids uncovered illegal was sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court on Friday. Andy Wright, principal Trading Standards officer at Lincolnshire County Council, said following the closure of his premises Salah "persisted by selling cigarettes from his car" in Spalding town was later caught by police and Trading Standards officers retrieving illegal cigarettes from a storage container in the town centre, Mr Wright Matthew Dickinson, from Lincolnshire Police, said: "Mr Salah was given opportunities to work towards rehabilitation, but instead chose to commit further offences."This is an excellent result and demonstrates how serious the courts take this sort of offending, rightly recognising the impact on the wider community." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
CTV News
09-07-2025
- CTV News
Man faces 9 charges after being caught with 62 cartons of illegal cigarettes
RCMP seized 62 cartons of illegal cigarettes and $4,000 in cash during a traffic stop in Grande Prairie on June 18, 2025. (Supplied) A man from Clairmont, Alta., faces nine charges after being caught with more than $4,000 and 62 cartons of unstamped tobacco in Grande Prairie last month. In a statement released Wednesday, RCMP said they attempted a traffic stop on a black Nissan Sentra around 3:20 a.m. on June 18. The Nissan didn't stop and fled into a residential neighbourhood at a high speed. Officers patrolled the area and found the car abandoned with a man seen walking away from it. The 37-year-old man was confirmed to be the driver and was arrested. After searching the car, Mounties found 62 cartons of illegal cigarettes and more than $4,000 cash. The car was also reported stolen. The Clairmont man was charged with: flight from police; possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000; possession of tobacco for the purpose of selling; possession of property obtained by crime; fraud over $5,000; possession of a prohibited weapon; possession of weapon contrary to order (x2); and possession of unstamped tobacco. The man was released and is to appear in court on July 14.
BBC News
09-07-2025
- BBC News
Illegal cigarettes stashed in hidden Heaton 'James Bond' wall
A haul of illegal cigarettes worth £4,000 has been found hidden in a James Bond-style wall, police from Newcastle Trading Standards and Northumbria Police found 245 packs of illegal cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco behind a remote-controlled stone structure in a shop cellar in Heaton, Newcastle. The trading standards team's cocker spaniel, named Griff, led officers to the blank wall which featured a hidden drawer, camouflaged by brick and stone.A trading standards spokesperson said the team was investigating the shop owner with a view to prosecution. Further searches found a hidden remote control nearby which, when pressed, slid open a heavy stone wall next to where Griff had illicit haul, which has not had duty paid on it, was seized and would be destroyed, police confirmed. Councillor Alex Hay, deputy leader of Newcastle City Council, said: "I want to thank our police, trading standards officers, and of course Griff for this unusual and impressive find. "Illegal tobacco isn't just a health risk, it's often linked to organised crime. "These are not victimless crimes, and the council will take firm action to protect our communities and local high streets." Gary Sharpe, neighbourhood sergeant of Northumbria Police, added: "This was a cracking discovery, with Griff's keen nose leading to the discovery of a stash of illicit cigarettes and tobacco concealed in a wall. "Items of this nature can be really harmful to the wider community." Follow BBC Newcastle on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
07-07-2025
- BBC News
Illegal cigarettes and vapes seized by police in Poole
Thousands of pounds of illegal cigarettes, tobacco and vapes have been seized by from Poole's neighbourhood policing team conducted a joint operation with Trading Standards following reports of the sale of the illegal products in the coastal town.A large quantity of illegal cigarettes and tobacco were located in a vehicle off Ashley Road, with a street value of more than £30, Standards also discovered illegal vapes and cash at the Romanian & Polish Shop on Ashley Road. The policing team and Trading Standards said they were "committed to disrupting the sale of illegal cigarettes and tobacco", and that organised crime groups were "known to use the money from these sales to fund other criminal activities".A police spokesperson added: "We would like to thank the community who continue to provide us with information around suspicious activity and illegally-sold goods."The information you provide us can be the missing link we need to take proactive action against suspected criminals." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
