Following previous successful operations to crack down on the sale of illegal cigarettes, Denbighshire County Council’s trading standard officers along with the Trading Standards Wales Regional Tobacco Team and North Wales Police conducted further visits to premises across the County.
Three premises were targeted following successful test purchases of illegal cigarettes.
Across the visits officers seized over 12,000 illegal cigarettes and 6.7 kilograms of hand rolling tobacco in two premises’, resulting in the temporary closure of one with the agreement of the owner.
During the search these items were discovered concealed in a variety of ways. Illegal tobacco and cigarettes were found in purpose built hidden compartments and false walls that were secured by electromagnets.
Emlyn Jones Head of Planning, Public Protection and Countryside Service said:
“This is another example of the great work that our trading standards officers are doing to take illegal products such as these off the shelves. The items seized were counterfeit and carry serious safety and health issues to those people buying and using them.
“The products have not been safety tested, and the cigarettes pose a real fire safety risk as they do not have the safety burn ring. From a health point of view, the contents of the tobacco are unknown, and they could potentially have harmful levels of illegal chemicals far beyond the normal risks of genuine authorised tobacco products.
“Our residents play a vital role in identifying areas and persons of interest, which help our trading standard officers to investigate and get illegal tobacco, vapes and other products out of the community”.
Businesses can get in touch with Denbighshire’s Trading Standards Team for advice on illegal cigarette, tobacco and vaping products on Denbighshire’s website.
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