Raids by police and trading standards officers aided a detection dog on four Blackburn businesses have seized more than £50,000 worth of illegal cigarettes and vapes.
The operation on Wednesday last week followed information from members of the public.
It is the latest in a series of such raids organised by Blackburn with Darwen Council’s trading standards team with support from the police.
The officers undertook inspection visits took place at four different business premises in Blackburn as a result of information provided by the public, with the aim of identifying any illegal tobacco and vapes.
The seizures included more than 63,000 illegal cigarettes, believed to be worth around £47,500, more than 400 illegal vapes, believed to be worth around £4,000, plus quantities of hand rolling tobacco and chewing tobacco.
The items, mostly concealed at the premises or in vehicles connected with the premises (including under a set of steps) were found by a specially trained detection dog.
Enquiries into the businesses involved are ongoing, and possible outcomes include prosecution, or up to a £10,000 financial penalty under the HMRC Track and Trace scheme.
Richard Brown – head of public protection, communities and wellbeing at Blackburn with Darwen Council – said: “It’s incredibly important we follow any leads given to us by the public, as often, the illegal tobacco trade has strong links with organised crime and criminal gangs.
“Even small-time local sellers are at the end of a long criminal chain and often don’t care who they sell to, which offers a real risk to the borough’s young people.”
Blackburn with Darwen Council’s environment boss Cllr Jim Smith said:The work our Trading Standards team do is invaluable and I thank them for their constant hard work in battling with illegal products in our borough.
“However, without the public coming forward, they wouldn’t have the information they need.
“I encourage anyone who knows anything about illegal products in our borough to come forward, so we can put a stop to it plus any other connected crime.
“There is no place for it in Blackburn with Darwen.”
Members of the public with any information regarding the sale of illegal tobacco or vapes can contact Crimestoppers confidentially on 0800 555 111, or the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.
Similar successful raids in Blackburn took place in January, February and March.
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