Overview

• Trading standards teams and police across Blackburn, Stoke-on-Trent and Darlington seized illegal tobacco and vapes valued at more than £80,000 during June operations.
• Blackburn raids yielded over £50,000 worth of cigarettes and vapes after a detection dog uncovered 63,000 illegal cigarettes and 400 vapes hidden at multiple premises.
• Staffordshire Police and Stoke-on-Trent Trading Standards recovered roughly £25,000 in contraband, including 20,000 cigarettes, 650 vapes, 6.5kg of rolling tobacco and shisha tubs.
• Officers in Darlington secured a three-month closure of Bazar Store after seizing over £5,000 in counterfeit cigarettes and illegal vapes and uncovering repeated offences and evidence of sales to underage customers.
• Authorities stated that community tip-offs were crucial to the joint Operation Cece effort and urged residents to report any suspected illegal tobacco or vape sales.