Illegal cigarettes and vapes worth around £2000 have been seized after a multi-agency day of action in Plungington.
This week, officers from Preston’s Neighbourhood Policing Team and Preston Task Force were joined by staff from Lancashire Trading Standards, Immigration, Lancashire Fire and Rescue, Housing Standards and Environmental Health to test compliance at eight premises on Plungington Road.
During the operation, the officers seized around £2000 of illicit tobacco and vapes.
They also arrested two people in relation to immigration offences, one person for possession of a knife and one person for possession with intent to supply a Class B drug.
A vehicle without insurance was also seized.
PC Lloyd from Preston’s Neighbourhood Policing Team said, “This operation demonstrates the strong working relationships that we have with our partners and the commitment we all have to working together to tackle the issues that our communities are facing.”
Councillor Michael Green, cabinet member for Health and Wellbeing at Lancashire County Council said, “It is so important for us to tackle sales of illicit vape and tobacco products, by working together with our partners on days of action like this in the community.
“We will always take action against unscrupulous shop owners who prioritise profits over the health and wellbeing of our community.
"Selling shoddy and possibly dangerous products puts buyers at a significant risk of harm and this is totally unacceptable."
Meanwhile, it is reported that rise in illegal tobacco in the UK is now eating up the legal tobacco sales.
The Treasury is already facing a £2.6 billion black hole from revenue from tobacco sales as increasing enforcement around the habit has led to a growth in illicit sales.
Official figures show that at least 14.5 per cent of the market is now taken up by illegal sales.
