Image
A one-day, multi-agency initiative aimed at disrupting the sale of illegal tobacco and vapes, took place last week in Weston town centre as part of a week of action by Avon and Somerset Police.
Together, North Somerset Council’s Trading Standards team, Avon and Somerset Police and the Home Office Immigration Service visited a number of premises.
They were assisted in the operation by Rio, a specially trained tobacco search dog.
In total 656 packets of illegal cigarettes, 132 packets of hand rolling tobacco and 383 illegal vapes were found and seized. None of the illegal tobacco had paid UK Tobacco Products Duty.
Further investigations into the premises are at an early stage.
Cllr Mike Bell, Leader of North Somerset Council, praised the operation:
“There’s no place for illegal tobacco and vaping products in North Somerset.
"Thank you to our Trading Standards team, Avon and Somerset Police and the Home Office for their continued joint working and this latest enforcement, removing dangerous products from our streets and ridding our communities of the criminal sale of tobacco.
“As well as the links they often have to wider criminality, illegal and counterfeit goods also pose serious health risks. They’re less likely to adhere to safety standards or a standardised manufacturing process. I urge anyone with concerns about sales of the illegal tobacco and vaping products to report them to Trading Standards South West or Citizens Advice.”
Chief Inspector Jonathan Murray, of Avon and Somerset Police, reinforced Cllr Bell’s words:
“This was a major operation and its success can be attributed to the collaborative efforts of everybody involved.
“Thanks to the hard work that went into the planning and delivery of this multi-agency operation, we’ve been able to take almost £10,000 worth of illegal tobacco and vaping products off the streets of North Somerset.
“Selling counterfeit goods is not a victimless crime. Legitimate businesses lose out, and the sale of fake goods is linked to funding serious and organised crime, which causes harm to our communities. This is why we take a zero-tolerance approach to illegal trading.”
Sales of illegal tobacco and/or vapes can be reported directly to the Trading Standards South West team at www.swillegaltobacco.info/report-it/ or by calling the Citizens Advice consumer advice line on 0808 223 1133.
North Somerset Council’s Better Health team offers free, tailored support to help people quit smoking for good. Find out more at www.betterhealthns.co.uk/stop-smoking.
The photographs show
- Rio, the tobacco search dog, photo courtesy of South West K9 bed bug detectives
- Some of the illegal goods that were seized
- Officers (and Rio) in a briefing before the operation, photo courtesy of Avon and Somerset Police
