Posted on: 25 March 2024
Trading Standards Officers seized illegal tobacco products and vapes with an estimated value of over £166,000 during a joint operation with police earlier this month.
Officers from Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service, accompanied by tobacco detection dogs and Devon & Cornwall Police, searched a location in south Devon.
A positive indication by detection dogs led to the discovery of a significant quantity of illegal products.
The seizure, one of the largest to date, consisted of over 18,000 illegal tobacco products (counterfeit and non-duty paid cigarettes and tobacco) and over 2,000 illegal vapes (not compliant for the UK market).
A number of people are under investigation by Trading Standards and enquiries remain ongoing.
A spokesperson for Devon & Cornwall Police said: “Carrying out this proactive warrant resulted in a significant amount of counterfeit goods being removed from the streets and circulation.
“I’d like to urge members of the public to report concerns to us so we can continue to disrupt illegal activity.”
To report concerns of counterfeit or other illegal products to Trading Standards, use the Citizens Advice Consumer Service or Trading Standards South West’s illegal tobacco reporting service.
To report concerns of businesses engaging in illegal activity or to log non-urgent crimes happening in your area, please visit our website or call 101. If you would like to report crimes anonymously visit Crimestoppers. For all emergencies call 999.
Information can also be passed anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111, or via the Crimestoppers website.