MORE THAN 9,000 illegal cigarettes and 5,000 illegal vaping products have been seized in Bromsgrove, Redditch and Kidderminster.
The latest crackdown by Worcestershire County Council Trading Standards saw 18 premises across the north of the county visited over a five-day period between April and May.
A total of 9,112 cigarettes, 2.5kg of hand-rolling tobacco and 4,648 vapes were seized from various shops.
The cigarettes, suspected to be counterfeits of popular brands, could contain harmful substances, may not self-extinguish, and, county bosses say, their sale also undermines public health messages about the harms of smoking that support people quitting.
A number of illegal vapes were also seized as part of these operations.
They delivered more puffs than permitted by UK law or failed to comply with strict labelling requirements. They may also contain higher than permitted levels of nicotine or harmful chemicals.
Dr Lisa McNally, Director of Public Health for Worcestershire County Council said the availability of cheap products made it easier for young people to get hold of tobacco products and take up vaping – something the authority would never encourage and was clamping down on.
“Our Trading Standards team are doing a great job at keeping our residents safe from potentially harmful and dangerous products.
“Vapes can offer a powerful alternative to tobacco and can support adults wanting to give up smoking, but illegal vapes can contain higher than permitted levels of nicotine.
“There is a place for vaping products that fully comply with the law to help people to give up smoking.”
Worcestershire Public Health is working with schools and other partners to explore the messages children receive about vaping.
Coun Marcus Hart, Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, added: “Our Trading Standards team will continue to work hard to remove illegal products from across the market place in Worcestershire and where necessary we will prosecute businesses and individuals that ignore the law.”
The operation was led by Worcestershire Trading Standards who were assisted by Officers from West Mercia Police.
The illicit haul of illegal tobacco was literally sniffed out by specially trained tobacco detection dogs from BWY Canine Ltd.
Trading Standards Officers targeted premises identified after extensive intelligence gathering.
Last year, 14,500 illegal non-compliant vaping products were seized.
Anyone concerned about a Worcestershire retailer selling illicit, counterfeit tobacco or illegal vapes should visit the’Report It’ page of worcestershirets.gov.uk or call Consumer Direct on 0808 223 1133.
