Illicit tobacco and vapes seized in raids

One of the largest operations to disrupt the supply of illegal tobacco products in Kent has taken place.

Inspections at five retail stores in Sittingbourne, Maidstone and Dover were carried out by Kent Trading Standards, Kent Police, HMRC and specially trained tobacco and cash detection dogs.

Teams seized 75.5kg of hand-rolling tobacco, 153,200 cigarettes, 163 vapes and 160 packets of shisha, Kent County Council (KCC) said.

James Whiddett, operations manager for Kent Trading Standards, said it was a “highly successful operation”.

“Our staff, working alongside partner agencies, maximized the effectiveness of the day by targeting illegal tobacco and vapes,” he said.

Some of the illegal products had been hidden in a tunnel that officers had to crawl through, KCC said.

During the operation, intelligence led the team to another location where an additional 60,000 cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco were seized.

The raids resulted in tens of thousands of dangerous and illegal products being removed from shop shelves in the county, KCC said.

The authority added that Illicit tobacco was a national issue and caused major detriment to legitimate businesses.

KCC added that the illegal tobacco industry was often linked to other criminality, including anti-social behaviour, money laundering, modern slavery, child exploitation and drugs.

Supt Pete Steenhuis said: "By supporting and working with other agencies in operations like this, the impact we can have on disrupting criminality is far greater.

"The results this time and the discovery of illegal goods in a concealed room just shows the lengths offenders will go to."

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