Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Leeds: undercover operation highlights illicit vape and tobacco crisis - JTI

Findings from JTI unearthed stores selling illicit vapes containing 14,400 puffs over the legal limit

Leeds: undercover operation highlights illicit vape and tobacco crisis - JTI

An undercover operation conducted by Japan Tobacco International (JTI) in Leeds has revealed the abundant presence of illicit tobacco and vapes in the region, with 43 illegal products found across 18 stores.

The exercise, which involved operatives making multiple test purchases across the city, has highlighted how rife illicit tobacco and vape products are in the area. Of the 18 stores visited, all had illicit tobacco or vapes available, with 12 of these stores located in the Labour Chancellor’s constituency of Leeds West and Pudsey.


Operatives on the ground had no difficulties purchasing contraband vapes, with eight products obtained, including one vape boasting a puff count of 15,000 – 25 times over the legal limit.

Nine of the 18 stores visited are known to be repeat offenders, having sold illegal tobacco to operatives during previous operations last year. Since the start of 2022, JTI has identified 59 retailers selling illegal tobacco or vapes in Leeds.

All evidence and information gathered has been made available to Trading Standards in the anticipation that it will support their efforts to enforce and prosecute anyone found to be selling illegal products.

“Once more, our undercover operations have exposed the stark reality of the illicit tobacco and vape trade in the UK," said Ian Howell, Public Affairs Manager at JTI UK,. "The vast availability of illicit products is a crisis on our streets and is increasingly happening in the open.

“The fact that you can easily walk into a store and purchase a vape with a puff count 25 times the legal limit is outrageous and needs to be taken more seriously by the Government. With data showing that Illicit tobacco spending in the UK is now twice as large as spending on illegal narcotics1, action must be taken from the top down to stamp out this worrying trend, which is impacting the sales of legitimate retailers and opening the door for criminal activity in our communities.

“Instead of implementing the impractical generational smoking ban, which will only play straight into the hands of criminals and exacerbate illicit trade, the Government should focus on removing illicit products from our streets and supporting honest retailers to tackle this growing issue.”

The operation also bought 12 packs of illicit Ready-Made-Cigarettes (RMC) and 23 packs of 50g illicit Roll-Your-Own (RYO). The typical price for illicit RMC on the day was £5, with the operatives’ most expensive purchase being £7. For comparison, the recommended retail price of JTI’s lowest price RMC product is £12.75.

More for you

No Smoking sign in Swedish

A sign in Swedish says No Smoking in Stockholm, Sweden

Photo: iStock

Sweden achieves historic smokefree milestone

Sweden has inched closer to becoming officially ‘smoke free’, government figures released on Wednesday have shown.

Smoking prevalence across the country reduced to 5.3 per cent, according to the health data released by Sweden’s public health agency, but the figure is just 4.5 per cent among the nation’s Swedish-born adults – significantly below the globally recognised benchmark of 5 per cent for smoke free status.

Keep ReadingShow less
Post office shop
Photo: iStock

Post Office unveils plan to add additional £250m annually to postmaster incomes

Post Office has on Wednesday set out an ambitious five-year Transformation Plan to deliver a ‘New Deal for Postmasters’ that significantly increases their total annual income through revenue sharing and strengthens their role in the direction of the organisation.

The ‘New Deal for Postmasters’ follows a strategic review initiated by Nigel Railton, chair of Post Office Ltd, in May. The Transformation Plan sets out an ambition to deliver a quarter of a billion pounds boost to postmasters’ income by 2030.

Keep ReadingShow less
high street store
Photo: iStock

Businesses to get ‘right to rent’ long-term vacant shops as High Street Rental Auctions set to take effect

Councils will be handed new powers next month in an effort to breathe new life back into high streets and transform long-term empty shops, the government has announced.

High Street Rental Auctions (HSRAs) will allow local leaders to tackle persistently vacant properties in city, town and village centres by putting the leases up for auction, with businesses and community groups getting a ‘right to rent’ commercial lots.

Keep ReadingShow less
St Neots Rugby Club

Nisa Local St Neots donates £800 to support St Neots Rugby Club

St Neots store supports local rugby club with £800 donation

Nisa Local Longsand Parade in St Neots, a convenience store owned and operated by TYS Retail LTD, has donated £800 to St Neots Rugby Club through Nisa's Making a Difference Locally (MADL) charity.

The donation will be used to purchase new rugby kits for the club's youth teams.

Keep ReadingShow less
Regulator clears Arla Foods’ acquisition of Volac Whey Nutrition

Regulator clears Arla Foods’ acquisition of Volac Whey Nutrition

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has approved Arla Foods Ingredients’ acquisition of Volac’s Whey Nutrition business.

The regulator’s go-ahead follows an evaluation that took place after an acquisition agreement was signed in April.

Keep ReadingShow less