By Thousands of illegal cigarettes seized in North East Lincolnshire in national crackdown
Thousands of illegal cigarettes and tobacco products were seized in North East Lincolnshire in the first half of the year, it has been revealed.
As part of Operation CeCe – a joint initiative between National Trading Standards and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) – over five million illegal cigarettes have been seized in six months alone from retail outlets across the country.
Since the launch of the operation in January, more than £2.7 million worth of illegal tobacco products have also been seized by officers.
In North East Lincolnshire alone, 54,640 cigarettes (2,732 packets) were seized in the six-month period, along with 29.8 kilos of hand rolling tobacco.
In June, Trading Standards officers visited a number of shops on Freeman Street in what was described as a “day of action”, seizing a large sum of illicit cigarettes and tobacco.
Councillor Ron Shepherd, portfolio holder for safer and stronger communities at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “Each inspection that we carry out disrupts the supply chain. These products do not meet safety standards and are putting lives at risk. People can make a difference by reporting any suspicions they might have to Trading Standards. We need to keep the pressure up on those who sell it.”
Wendy Martin, Director, National Trading Standards, said: “Operation CeCe seeks to protect local communities from the harm that the illegal tobacco trade brings. Beyond the significant effects of tobacco on people’s health, the illicit tobacco trade is often part of other criminal activity including drug smuggling, people-trafficking and illegal alcohol and DVD production.
“The intended sale price of seized cigarettes is often less than half the cost of legal tobacco. This not only undermines work to reduce the number of people who smoke but also impacts legitimate businesses.
“This operation marks the first collaboration between National Trading Standards and HMRC, and I am delighted that the first six months have been hugely successful in removing a significant amount of illegal tobacco products off our streets and disrupting this illicit trade.”
Simon York, Director of Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: “Operation CeCe shows our determination to tackle the menace of illicit tobacco. This is a trade that costs the UK taxpayer around £2.3 billion a year, undermining our vital public services and bankrolling a host of other crimes that harm communities, including guns, drugs and human trafficking.
“Those involved readily undercut legitimate businesses and don’t care who they sell to, including children. HMRC and Trading Standards are determined to stamp out the illicit tobacco trade, as these results clearly show.”
