Thousands of Illegal cigarettes seized
Thousands of cigarettes have been seized from local businesses as part of an ongoing operation targeting suspected illegal tobacco sellers.
Working together with Durham Constabulary and other local agencies, our trading standards team undertook a series of raids at eight premises across the town, including a local barber shop, seizing nearly 6,000 illegal cigarettes, more than two kilograms of hand rolling tobacco and 20 vapes.
The seized items, which had an estimated retail value of over £6,000, were recovered from three different properties including B&S Market on Northgate, Pick & Pay on North Road and Corporation Road Mini Market, where items were found stored alongside refuse in a wheeled bin. Seizures were also made from a vehicle directly linked to Your Shop on Gladstone Street.
Tobacco detection dogs Griff, Bran and Cooper also sniffed out hiding places that had been used to store products and had been emptied before searches took place at Darlington Mini Market on Gladstone Street, Yarm Road Mini Market and North Market on North Road.
The multi-agency operation took place earlier last month as part of a day of action following a test purchase operation which revealed the sale of illegal cigarettes and tobacco products in 13 of 16 targeted stores. It involved a range of teams and departments from the council including trading standards, licencing, civic enforcement and environmental health, which served Yarm Road Mini Market with an emergency prohibition notice due to concerns about the cleanliness and conditions of the premises.
Partners including Immigration, the Regional Organised Crime Unit and the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority were also involved in the action which was part of operation CeCe - a joint initiative between National Trading Standards and HMRC to frustrate and disrupt the illegal tobacco market.
Leah Ball, fair trading and financial investigations officer who led the operation on behalf of Darlington trading standards, said: "The trade of illegal tobacco products presents serious dangers to public health; encouraging people to smoke more as well as attracting young people with pocket money prices. It also harms local, honest businesses and feeds into other criminal activity and anti-social behaviour.
"Days of action like this provide us with vital opportunities to gather intelligence, carry out targeted enforcement, and take further legal action against sellers who show a blatant disregard for the law. Community cooperation is crucial in maintaining a safe environment for all, and we encourage anyone with information about the illegal sale of vapes and cigarettes in Darlington to report this to us in trading standards."
Councillor Jim Garner, cabinet member for stronger communities, Darlington Borough Council: added: "We take the illegal sale of cigarettes, vapes and other tobacco products very seriously and are committed to taking positive and hard-hitting action on businesses which pose a risk to the health and wellbeing of our communities, particularly those which attempt to exploit or sell harmful products to children. We will use the full extent of our powers to bring offenders to justice, protect our residents and keep our streets safe - ensuring Darlington remains a great place to live, learn, work or invest.
Inspector David Littlefair, from Darlington Neighbourhood Police Team, added: “This type of criminal activity helps fund organised crime groups and goes hand-in-hand with drug dealing, child exploitation, money laundering and even terrorism. Our commitment to eradicating these illegal operations remains unwavering, and we will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to protect our local communities from the very real dangers posed by these businesses."
Lord Michael Bichard, Chair, National Trading Standards, said: “The trade in illegal tobacco harms local communities and affects honest businesses operating within the law. Having removed 46 million illegal cigarettes, 12,600kg of hand rolling tobacco and almost 175kg of shisha products from sale, Operation CeCe , the National Trading Standards initiative in partnership with HMRC continues to successfully disrupt this illicit trade.”
Anyone with any information that can assist trading standards in Darlington can email [email protected] or report it using the online form. You can also contact Police on 101 with any information, or submit it online via the 101 Live Chat: www.durham.police.uk/Report-It/101-Live-Chat