Over £100,000 of illegal tobacco, tablets seized in Wallsend

A huge cache of illegal tobacco and tablets has been seized by North Tyneside Council and Northumbria Police.

Officers from Trading Standards, backed up their Police colleagues, recovered 88,500 cigarettes, 979 pouches of tobacco, and 830 Viagra tablets valued at £106,000 from a flat in Wallsend. A significant amount of cash was also confiscated.

The raid followed intelligence indicating that the flat was involved in the storage and distribution of the illicit items. The operation was part of an ongoing effort to tackle illegal tobacco sales in North Tyneside.

Councillor Karen Clark, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Tackling Anti-social Behaviour, said, “These seizures demonstrate the vital role our Trading Standards team plays in shielding our community from illegal tobacco.

“All cigarettes are harmful, and buying drugs from unknown sources is potentially very dangerous for consumers. We will continue to take decisive action, working with the Police, to eliminate these illegal activities and keep North Tyneside a safe place to live, work, and visit.

“We urge residents to stay alert and report any suspicious activities to help us tackle this issue effectively.”

Praising the results, Chief Inspector Dave Morrison, of Northumbria Police said, “This is another fantastic result, and our continued thanks go to the community who provide information that helps us act immediately in uncovering this type of activity.

“With their support, we have been able to seize a significant haul of illegal tobacco and tablets – ultimately taking these harmful items out of circulation.

“People might not see the risks associated with these illicit products, but we know that their proceeds are often reinvested into serious organised crime, which can fund more serious activity in the region and beyond. Residents should be assured that this is simply not something we will tolerate in our communities.

“If you do have any information about the supply and sale of illegal goods in your area, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can take action.”