Tameside Trading Standards seized nearly £500k worth of counterfeit goods, illicit vapes, and tobacco products in raids at three premises in Aston, Greater Manchester.
Tameside Council enforcement officers, working with Greater Manchester Police and Wagtails sniffer dogs, discovered the stashes during the wider Operation Avro crime and anti-social behaviour day of action on 19 September.
They visited the premises after receiving intelligence and information regarding suspicious activity. Investigations are continuing, Tameside Council has said.
The seized goods, which are worth approximately £460,000, include illicit vapes, cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco and counterfeit clothing, sportswear, trainers and fragrances
HM Revenues and Customs estimates that the illicit market in tobacco duty and related VAT was £2.8 billion in 2021 to 2022.
Tameside Council assistant executive member for enforcement Cllr Hugh Roderick said: “This is a great result thanks to collaborative efforts of our trading standards team working with our partners. Appropriate action will be taken against the offenders involved. The trade in counterfeit and illicit goods supports crime rings, hurts hard working legitimate businesses and puts consumers at risk.
“We’ll continue to work closely with our partners to address issues of concern to our communities and to make Tameside safer for everyone.”
No comments yet