Nearly 1,000 packets of illegal cigarettes and 14kg of hand-rolling tobacco were confiscated from four premises within the city. Some of the illicit products were discovered concealed in hidden storage areas.
The discovery was made by the Stoke-on-Trent City Council's Trading Standards team, who spearheaded a multi-agency operation. They collaborated with partners from Staffordshire Police and a specialist tobacco dog handler from Wagtail UK.
Seven premises were visited in total across Burslem, Tunstall, Longton, Bucknall, and Bentilee. The investigation, which took place on Saturday 24 October, follows a series of illegal tobacco test purchasing exercises.
“"This operation forms part of our ongoing work to tackle organised crime on our high streets and I would like to thank our Trading Standards team, and our colleagues at Staffordshire Police, for carrying out yet another successful investigation. It is extremely disappointing that four separate businesses were found with illegal cigarettes and tobacco, but I am pleased that they were seized before they made their way into customers’ hands. These products harm the public and legitimate businesses, and there is no place for them in our communities."
This investigation was part of Operation Machinize, the National Crime Agency (NCA) coordinated project aimed at combating money laundering and the criminal use of cash-intensive high street businesses.
