Illegal tobacco products seized during raids

Thousands of illegal cigarettes have been taken off Devon and Somerset's streets as part of a major operation.

Trading Standards South West (TSSW) and police officers visited 50 premises across the region during a week of action from 10 to 14 March.

The crackdown - part of Operation CeCe - seized 127,371 illegal cigarettes, 65.94kg (2,326 oz) of illegal hand rolling tobacco (HRT), 4,490 illegal vapes and 2.5kg (88 oz) of shisha in the South West with a total value in the region of £186,000.

TSSW said the haul included 20,580 cigarettes, 21.82kg (770 oz) of HRT and 266 illegal vapes with a value of £36,459 in the Devon, Plymouth, Torbay and Somerset Council areas.

Ben Hayes, the regional illegal tobacco and vape lead at TSSW, said the operation had been "successful" and disrupted criminals operating in the South West.

"Members of [the] public need to be aware of [the] serious criminal association that these products have to criminal gangs," he said.

"I urge anyone with concerns about sales of the illegal tobacco and vaping products, including their underage sales, to report them to Trading Standards South West."

Other council areas where raids were carried out included Gloucestershire, Bristol, Wiltshire, Dorset, Cornwall and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, TSSW said.

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