Illegal nicotine products including cigarettes, counterfeit hand rolling tobacco and disposable vapes, worth over £10,000, have been seized from stores in Preston.
Carried out as part of a joint operation between Preston Police and Lancashire Trading Standards, officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team, along with Trading Standards, seized a total of 1,044 goods from the two shops.
Sgt Martin Hughes, from Preston Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Information from the public is invaluable to the police. Without it, we would be unable to carry out this sort of proactive work which helps to prevent and detect crime, ensuring the safeguarding and protection of our community.”
Dawn Robinson from Lancashire Trading Standards said “The number of illicit tobacco and vapes seizures we are currently dealing with (54 so far this year from Lancashire retailers) shows the high value of the trade in these products. To make matters worse, cheap illicit tobacco and child-appealing vapes are often illegally sold to young people.
“The sale of illegal tobacco and vapes has a serious impact on legitimate businesses, and our communities, and is something we are determined to tackle.”
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