Gloucestershire County Council’s trading standards have continued their crackdown on illegal tobacco with a successful raid in Coleford.
Trading standards officers, thumb Gloucestershire police and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) carried out a search on a house in Coleford following intelligence about large quantities of illegal cigarettes and tobacco being sold from the address.
During the search, viagra buy which included the use of a police sniffer dog, store a substantial amount of money was found as well as 100kg of hand rolling tobacco worth approximately £17,500 and 750 cartons of 20 pack cigarettes with a street value of £2700.
Cllr Will Windsor-Clive, cabinet member for fire, planning and infrastructure, said; “The seizure of such a large quantity of illegal cigarettes and tobacco is a major success for the team.
“Illegal tobacco does a lot of harm to legitimate businesses and individuals and we will continue to work hard to stamp out the sale of illegal tobacco in the county.”
In the last 12 months, 20 individuals have been summoned to court for offences relating to the sale of illegal tobacco. Penalties have ranged from 40 weeks in prison to a £19,000 fine. Other cases are due before court and others are being investigated.
Cllr Andrew Gravells, cabinet member for public health and communities said, “Smoking is a serious public health issue and cheap illegal tobacco just makes it even harder
for people to quit smoking and to prevent children from taking up the habit.
“That’s why Gloucestershire County Council along with partners are working together to help tackle the problem.”
If residents have any concerns about tobacco products being sold at shops in the county, they can contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06, or use the ‘report a rogue link’ on the consumers page of the trading standards websitewww.tradingstandards.gov.uk/glos