A sweeping multi-agency enforcement operation spanning several days has resulted in the seizure of more than £75,000 worth of illicit tobacco products and hundreds of non-compliant disposable vaping devices from shops across the county — one of the largest single actions of its type in the region this year.
The carefully planned raids, executed between [insert dates if known, e.g. 4–8 November 2025], involved trading standards officers from the county council, His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigators, uniformed and plain-clothes police officers, and four specialist tobacco-detection dogs from the charity-backed Dogs Against Smuggling programme.
More than 40 retail premises — including convenience stores, off-licences, and independent newsagents — were visited after months of intelligence gathering, community tip-offs, and test-purchasing operations that confirmed underage sales and the presence of counterfeit goods.
What Was Seized?
- Over 58,000 illegal cigarettes (many bearing counterfeit branding of well-known marques such as Marlboro, Lambert & Butler, and Richmond)
- 28 kilograms of hand-rolling tobacco packaged in unmarked plastic bags or fake Golden Virginia and Amber Leaf pouches
- 1,200+ non-compliant disposable vapes, including popular brands that had been illegally modified or imported
- Numerous empty counterfeit cigarette packets and packaging materials used to repack cheap “illicit whites” produced in eastern Europe and the Middle East
Laboratory analysis of a sample of the seized vapes revealed some devices contained as much as 12 ml of nicotine liquid (six times the legal limit) and nicotine concentrations reaching 50 mg/ml. Several contained traces of synthetic cannabinoids and vitamin E acetate — substances linked to serious lung injury.
The Financial Cost to the Exchequer
HMRC officers estimate the seized tobacco evaded at least £52,000 in excise duty and VAT, with the non-compliant vapes adding a further £23,000–£25,000 in unpaid taxes. When multiplied across the country, the illicit tobacco and vape market is believed to deprive the Treasury of between £2.5 billion and £3 billion every year — money that would otherwise fund vital public services such as the NHS, schools, and policing.
Links to Organised Crime
Senior officers repeatedly stressed that the trade in cheap illegal tobacco and unregulated vapes is rarely the work of isolated rogue traders. Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Thompson, who led the police contingent, said:
“The profit margins on illicit tobacco are enormous — often 300–400 % after duty is evaded. Those margins attract serious and organised crime groups, some of whom are also involved in Class A drug supply, modern slavery, and money laundering. Every packet of cheap cigarettes sold on a street corner potentially funds a much darker criminal enterprise.”
Public Health Emergency
Health professionals have described the influx of oversized and super-strength disposable vapes as a “public health emergency in slow motion”.
Dr Emily Hargreaves, Director of Public Health for the county, explained:
“Young people are being drawn into nicotine addiction by colourful, sweet-flavoured devices that deliver a stronger hit than many cigarettes. Because these products fall outside regulatory control, we simply do not know the long-term consequences of inhaling the chemicals they contain. The seizure of over a thousand such devices will, quite literally, save lives.”
Nationally, hospital admissions for vaping-related illness among under-25s have risen by 400 % since 2022, according to NHS Digital figures.
Impact on Legitimate Businesses
Honest retailers have borne the brunt of the illegal trade for years. Raj Patel, chairman of the county’s Federation of Independent Retailers, welcomed the operation:
“We’ve seen footfall drop by 15–20 % in some stores because customers are buying £3 pouches of illegal tobacco instead of paying £16 for the real thing. This action sends a strong message and begins to restore a level playing field.”
Penalties and Next Steps
Trading standards issued:
- 18 fixed-penalty notices (£200–£500 each)
- 9 formal cautions
- 4 prohibition notices forcing immediate closure of tobacco and vape displays
Six premises have been referred for full prosecution under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016, the Fraud Act 2006, and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Magistrates may impose unlimited fines and, in the most serious cases, prison sentences of up to seven years.
The council has also applied to the courts for Criminal Behaviour Orders that would ban convicted traders from selling tobacco or vapes anywhere in the UK.
National Context: Operation CeCe and Beyond
This county-wide crackdown forms part of Operation CeCe — the national programme jointly led by the Home Office, HMRC, Border Force, and the National Trading Standards Tobacco & Vapes Team. Since its launch in 2023, Operation CeCe has seized more than £200 million worth of illegal tobacco and vaping products nationwide.
Additional funding announced in the October 2025 Budget will see the deployment of another 12 tobacco-detection dogs and the creation of a dedicated Illicit Vape Intelligence Hub in the Midlands.
How Residents Can Help
Members of the public are urged to report suspected illegal sales. Reports can be made anonymously via:
- Citizens Advice consumer helpline: 0808 223 1133
- Keep It Out campaign website: www.keep-it-out.co.uk
- Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111
- Local council trading standards portal (search “[county name] council report illegal tobacco”)
Councillor James Reynolds, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Regulatory Services, concluded:
“This outstanding collaborative operation has removed dangerous products from our streets, protected children, supported legitimate businesses, and struck a real blow against organised crime. But we are under no illusions — the trade will attempt to re-establish itself. Residents should rest assured that further high-visibility operations are already in the advanced planning stage for early 2026.”
Further seizures and arrests are expected in the coming weeks as forensic examination of seized mobile phones and financial records continues.
The fight against illegal tobacco and non-compliant vapes in the county is far from over — but this week’s results demonstrate what determined, intelligence-led enforcement can achieve.