Illegal cigarettes seized in Great Yarmouth inspections
Following a number of inspections carried out as a result of intelligence received by Norfolk Trading Standards, over 5,700 illicit cigarettes, 24 illegal vapes and hand rolling tobacco has been seized from businesses on King Street and Northgate Street.
Councillor Scott Hussey, Norfolk County Council's Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, which includes Trading Standards, said: "The seizure of nearly 6,000 illicit cigarettes plus illegal vapes and hand-rolling tobacco, from just two Great Yarmouth businesses, shows the scale of what we're dealing with and why operations like this matter.
"Illegal tobacco does real harm. It undercuts law-abiding local businesses, it's sold cheaply to children, and the money flows directly to organised criminal gangs often linked to modern-day slavery and human trafficking."
He added: "I want to commend the Trading Standards team, working alongside Norfolk Constabulary, for this successful operation. This is joined-up action at its best and it sends a clear message: Norfolk County Council has zero tolerance for illegal products and we will do all we can to get them off our streets."
The inspections were carried out on the morning of Thursday 28 May in Great Yarmouth as part of Norfolk Trading Standards' ongoing efforts to tackle the sale of illegal tobacco products in Norfolk.
The illegal products are now being held in custody while the matter is referred to HMRC's Track and Trace, whose national operation will now trace the origins of the items and will charge any relevant penalties.
In addition to regular intelligence led inspections such as these, Norfolk Trading Standards continues to take part in Operation CeCe, a national initiative led by National Trading Standards in partnership with HMRC to tackle illegal tobacco.
If you are being coerced into preparing, distributing or selling illegal tobacco, you can report it to HMRC online by searching 'report fraud HMRC' on GOV.UK or by contacting the HMRC Fraud hotline on 0800 788 887.
Members of the public are urged to report illegal sales of vapes, cigarettes, or tobacco. Reports can be made to Citizens Advice by calling 0808 223 1133.
