Thousands of illegal cigarettes were seized in a single raid. The Trading Standards operation in Horsham found 142,700 cigarettes and 1,461 packets of hand-rolling tobacco. The results are unprecedented, with Trading Standards having seized 162,640 cigarettes and 414 packets of hand-rolling tobacco in the whole of 2023.
The operation was carried out in July and the investigation is ongoing. Councillor Duncan Crow, West Sussex County Council cabinet member for community support, fire and rescue, said: “Trading Standards seized probably as much tobacco on that one day as we did in the whole of last year, which was a fantastic result by the team. “It’s been reported that trade in illegal cigarettes and tobacco impacts disadvantaged people in our communities the most, with more than half of all smokers of illicit tobacco coming from the most deprived socio-economic groups.
READ MORE: Crawley: Counterfeit cigarettes and vapes seized by police “Organised crime gangs prey on and exploit these smokers with often fake, inferior and potentially unsafe products, making huge profit and often exploiting people to work in the shops, or on the streets outside. “Sellers will also be referred to HMRC, who can issue penalties of up to £10,000. Anyone caught who has a licence to sell alcohol can expect Trading Standards to immediately seek a revocation of their licence, which could have a significant impact on their business .
“Keeping people safe from the consequences of using cheap, illicit tobacco and illegal vapes is a top health priority. These illicit products can harm communities and jeopardise the profitability of honest, law-abiding local businesses. “With the help of information from residents and legitimate local businesses, we will continue to disrupt the vile and potentially dangerous trade in illicit cigarettes and tobacco in West Sussex, which supports our aims for the health and wellbeing of our communities.
“I urge anyone who suspects illegal trading activity, please don’t turn a blind eye but report your suspicion to our Trading Standards team online, or by calling the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on Freephone 0808 223 1133.”.
