More than 670,000 illicit cigarettes were removed from the streets of Lincolnshire last year, marking a 150% increase compared to 2023, according to new figures from Lincolnshire Council.
Collaborative efforts between the council and Trading Standards also resulted in the seizure of 17,000 illegal vapes and 370kg of hand rolling tobacco.
The crackdown saw 68 stores in the county handed closure orders in 2024 for selling counterfeit products.
“There is absolutely no place for these illicit products on Lincolnshire’s streets. The criminals have been put on notice, we will continue to clamp down hard on the unscrupulous individuals who sell them,” said Cllr Daniel McNally, executive member for Trading Standards at Lincolnshire County Council.
The findings coincide with the launch of Operation Nivada - a public awareness campaign by Lincolnshire Council aimed at addressing illegal tobacco and the associated criminal activity.
The council’s Trading Standards team deploys a variety of measures against the rogue traders. Staff conduct regular test purchasing and inspections, work with landlords to remove tenants, secure closure orders on premises and bring criminal cases before the courts.
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