An undercover operation conducted by Japan Tobacco International (JTI) at stores in Leeds has revealed the abundant presence of illicit tobacco and vapes, with 43 illegal products found across 18 stores.
Of the 18 stores visited, all had illicit tobacco or vapes available, with 12 of these stores located in the Labour Chancellor’s constituency of Leeds West and Pudsey.
Operatives on the ground had no difficulties purchasing contraband vapes, with eight products obtained, including one vape boasting a puff count of 15,000 – 25 times over the legal limit.
The operation also bought 12 packs of illicit Ready-Made-Cigarettes (RMC) and 23 packs of 50g illicit Roll-Your-Own (RYO). The typical price for illicit RMC on the day was £5, with the operatives’ most expensive purchase being £7. For comparison, the recommended retail price of JTI’s lowest price RMC product is £12.75.
Nine of the 18 stores visited are known to be repeat offenders, having sold illegal tobacco to operatives during previous operations last year. Since the start of 2022, JTI has identified 59 retailers selling illegal tobacco or vapes in Leeds.
All evidence and information gathered has been made available to Trading Standards in the anticipation that it will support their efforts to enforce and prosecute anyone found to be selling illegal products.
Public affairs manager at JTI UK, Ian Howell said: “Once more, our undercover operations have exposed the stark reality of the illicit tobacco and vape trade in the UK. The vast availability of illicit products is a crisis on our streets and is increasingly happening in the open.
“The fact that you can easily walk into a store and purchase a vape with a puff count 25 times the legal limit is outrageous and needs to be taken more seriously by the Government. With data showing that Illicit tobacco spending in the UK is now twice as large as spending on illegal narcotics1, action must be taken from the top down to stamp out this worrying trend, which is impacting the sales of legitimate retailers and opening the door for criminal activity in our communities.”
Howell added that the government should focus on the illicit trade rather than the generational smoking ban which he believes will benefit the black market.
“Instead of implementing the impractical generational smoking ban, which will only play straight into the hands of criminals and exacerbate illicit trade, the Government should focus on removing illicit products from our streets and supporting honest retailers to tackle this growing issue.”
If retailers know of a store that is selling illicit tobacco or vapes, they should report them by calling Trading Standards through the Citizen Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133 or contact HM Revenue & Customs’ Fraud Hotline (0800 788 887), or Crimestoppers (0800 555 111).
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