An investigation by Northumbria Police and Trading Standards has led to the seizure of more than 3,000 suspected illegal vapes worth just under £55,000.
The authorities also recovered more than 3,000 illicit cigarettes and more than 2.5kg of hand rolling tobacco.
Throughout July and August, officers from North Tyneside Council’s Trading Standards Team and North Shields Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) conducted warrants and searches of addresses, on the search for unlawful products.
The investigation focused on four addresses in the North Shields area – two on Prudhoe Street and two on Burdon Street.
Almost £32,000 in cash was also seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Investigations into all seizures are ongoing.
Sergeant James Younas, of Northumbria Police, warned of the dangers of buying prohibited goods.
“Let me be clear – all cigarettes and vapes are harmful, but by purchasing non-compliant goods, buyers are also helping the trader to break the law, and the money sometimes ends up funding organised crime such as drug dealing,” he said. “My advice would be to always check the quality and labels first. It’s often easy to spot a fake as the labels may have spelling mistakes or other distinguishing marks.”
He added: “Northumbria Police work closely with partners, including Trading Standards, to join forces and carry out regular checks on sellers year-round, however it’s always good to be involved in this kind of targeted, proactive activity.
“As a Force, we will continue to pursue those involved in illegal activities, as well as protecting the public from the potential harmful effects of this type of criminality.
“We need information from within our communities, so please do contact us via 101 or the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of our website if you suspect this activity is taking place near you.”
Councillor Karen Clark, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: “Illicit cheap tobacco undermines price as one of the key drivers to bring down smoking rates, honest businesses cannot compete with illegal tobacco sellers and attracts criminality to neighbourhoods.
“As we conclude a month of collaborative efforts with Northumbria Police, we want to remind the public to stay vigilant when making purchases. By working closely with the Police, we’ve conducted thorough searches and warrants, resulting in the recovery of thousands of suspected illegal items. We urge everyone to be cautious and informed consumers, checking for quality and authenticity before making any purchases.”
If you are aware of any ongoing sale or supply of illicit and counterfeit tobacco products, you can report it anonymously via the Keep-It-Out website at https://keep-it-out.co.uk/anonymous-reporting/ or call 0300 999 0000.
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